Over the past few months, at the behest of New York Governor
Kathy Hochul, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has
been quietly gathering metrics about the experience of TGNCNB
(transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary) employees in the
workplace.
Examining these statistics led to some pretty stark
conclusions.
Key findings in the NYSDOL report include (among others):
► Employment discrimination based on gender identity is
pervasive throughout the state.
How so? Discrimination against the TGNCNB in New York includes
termination, microaggressions, harassment. These employees also
experience extensive intersectional discrimination based on race,
immigrant status, and other protected classes in addition to gender
discrimination.
► TGNCNB people of color experience greater employment
disparities.
►There is a lack of cultural competency statewide regarding
gender identity and expression. That is, an understanding that New
York law protects LGBTQIA and TGNCNB individuals from
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
► There is a genuine fear for safety in the workplace among
TGNCNB individuals.
The news is...not great. But hardly surprising.
Employers, a reminder: discrimination based on a person's
transgender status, gender identity or expression, non-binary or
non-gender conforming status, or sexual orientation is
discrimination based on sex.
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