Zikerria Bellamy
Photo associated with TLDEF
press release
The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) filed a complaint on December 7 with the Florida Commission on Human Relations against an Orlando, Fla., McDonald’s for refusing to hire a transgender woman, 17-year-old Zikerria Bellamy.
Not only did McDonald’s refuse to hire her, but a manager left her a scathing voice mail about the company’s reasons for denying her application — an unfortunate move for McDonald's, since administrative agencies in Florida have ruled that trans people are protected by the Florida Human Rights Act, according to TLDEF.
In Colorado, where I live, gender identity is specifically protected under our state’s Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Such a message would be grounds for legal action for certain.
Not only was the voice mail message inappropriate, but the manager used a derogatory, anti-gay term in his message to Bellamy. Trans people are frequently confused with gay and lesbian people, although trans people can be any sexual orientation. But the use of anti-gay language is one of the hallmarks of anti-trans bias.
Listen to this voice mail from YouTube and think about whether or not it is one that you would want to receive as a job applicant.
In 38 states where trans people are not protected against employment discrimination, a trans job applicant could receive the same message, and there is often little that he or she can do about it.
Everyone should have the right to work. All people need to be able to support themselves. In order to protect people like Bellamy, we need a federal ENDA that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. The federal ENDA bill is currently stalled in Congress.
Get more information about gender identity employment discrimination, find out how you can help Bellamy and TLDEF, and help get the federal ENDA moving again here at TLDEF.
Comments
Bigoted AND stupid, though of course they do often go together. It's not like they couldn't not hire her without calling her up and insulting her as well.
There is a Facebook group hosted by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss if you want to keep up with and participate with getting ENDA passed. Just search for ENDA if you want to join.
He would have probably scared off all the customers if they hired him/her.
Damn he's ugly.
She doesn't look ugly to me. Not that that's supposed to matter.
Thanks, Dana. The link in the article called "federal ENDA" leads to the Facebook page, so those who are interested should check it out.
dont give up Zikerria, your beautiful, he was probably just mad because he was checking you out.
I'm sure he was checking her out. The way he said "you lied to me" sounded very personal. Sort of like she gave up his hopes of trying to get with her. Anywho, just by listening to the voicemail, how in the hell did he become a manager. He barely used complete sentences when he spoke.
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