6/30/2014 Transgender Woman Denied Job by State Department of Corrections, Resolved in EEOC Mediation | Transgender Law Center

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Staff Attorney Matt Wood and Shea

Transgender Woman Denied Job by State Department

of Corrections, Resolved in EEOC Mediation

Shea was thrilled when she applied to be a

correctional officer (“C.O.”) at a south western state

correctional institution. A U.S. Army vet with a

college degree in criminal justice and experience in

loss prevention, she was excited to begin her life-

long dream of a working in corrections – a career that

allowed her to use her knowledge and experience

and that provided a solid income with excellent

benefits. Shea passed all required exams and

fitness tests, and the agency’s recruiters were aware

of her transgender identity and encouraged her every

step of the way.

When it came time for her to enroll in the

correctional officer academy however, Shea was

informed that she couldn’t enroll because her

“anatomy was not clearly male or female.” In other

words, because Shea had not yet had a gender

affirming surgery (sexual reassignment

surgery/SRS), she was prohibited from working as a

C.O. in the men’s facility where she was scheduled to

start work. She was also prohibited from working as a

C.O. at a women’s state prison.

Gender identity discrimination is illegal under Title

VII, the federal employment nondiscrimination

statute. With the assistance of Transgender Law

Center staff attorneys Matt Wood and Sasha Buchert,

Shea was able to successfully resolve her case in an

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6/30/2014 Transgender Woman Denied Job by State Department of Corrections, Resolved in EEOC Mediation | Transgender Law Center

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/10551 2/4

EEOC mediation and has begun working in a correctional institution. “I am grateful to Transgender Law Center

for its support for me and all transgender people. I shouldn’t be denied a job just because of who I am,” she

said.

“Unfortunately, incidents like this one are all too common for transgender employees and job applicants” said

Staff Attorney Wood. “It’s important that transgender people know that federal law prohibits discrimination

based upon gender identity. A transgender woman is a woman regardless of whether she has had SRS or not.”

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employment, federal, shea

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6/30/2014 Transgender Woman Denied Job by State Department of Corrections, Resolved in EEOC Mediation | Transgender Law Center

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/10551 3/4

VICTORY! EEOC Rules in Favor of

Transgender Employee in

Discrimination Case1 comment • 10 months ago

Michelle Gould — Now guidelines are need

from Transgender Law Center for those

who who are interviewing and are

transgender with the added fact they are

not employed.

Coming Out? We’re #CoolWithThat!

Share your story here…

11 comments • 9 months ago

josh — I knew I was a boy since I was four

years old. I would try to pee standing up

and I became depressed when I found

out I didn't have a penis like the other

boys. When I was …What Transgender Californians NeedTo Know About Health Care Reform…

1 comment • 9 months ago

Kori Runkle — How well does all of this

translate to the other 49 states?

Watch: Pastor Jack Hibbs issues call toaction against transgender youth…

1 comment • 8 months ago

Terri Tg — you sir are an idiot. i live in AZ

and I HEARD about it. maybe people who

only watch your religious drivel (and i AM

a christian, just not a fake christian, but

one who lives …

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6/30/2014 Transgender Woman Denied Job by State Department of Corrections, Resolved in EEOC Mediation | Transgender Law Center

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