Washington Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys

Teller & Associates is an accomplished employment law firm located in Seattle, with experienced employment law attorneys and employment discrimination lawyers representing clients throughout Washington. If you have been harassed or discriminated against at your place of work due to your sexual orientation (whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or straight) or because of your gender expression or identity, contact a Washington sexual orientation discrimination attorney at Teller & Associates to discuss your case. Our Seattle sexual orientation discrimination lawyers will use our expertise of employment discrimination and civil rights laws to recover for you the monetary compensation that you deserve.

Discrimination because of sexual orientation can happen because of your actual sexual orientation, no matter what it is, or because of your perceived sexual orientation. Similarly, gender discrimination can happen because of your gender, whether your identity is male, female, transgender, genderqueer, or anything else, or can happen just because the way you look or act doesn't match the way someone else thinks someone of your gender should.

Perceived sexual orientation discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, and gender identity discrimination are each types of gender discrimination and are illegal in many places of work. Some local ordinances make sexual orientation and gender discrimination illegal (e.g., in unincorporated King County, or Seattle city limits). Other times sexual orientation or gender identity harassment or discrimination looks like sex role stereotyping, and can be the basis of a suit under federal or Washington State gender discrimination laws. If you have suffered from a hostile work environment or have been harassed because of your sexual orientation or gender (or perceived orientation or gender ), contact a Seattle LGBT discrimination lawyer at Teller & Associates immediately.

Many people who are victims of discrimination or harassment because of their gender or sexual orientation in the workplace are also discriminated against in other ways, including sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Listed below are a few examples of discrimination situations that may occur in the workplace, depending on the circumstances, these actions may or may not be illegal:

• Assuming that an employee is gay or lesbian because of their behavior and characteristics (e.g., an effeminate man or masculine woman) and therefore harassing that person because of the assumption is discrimination and violates the employee's civil rights.
• Firing an employee because the employer believes that the employee is gay or lesbian. This illegal practice is also a form of wrongful termination.
• Refusing to use the correct pronoun or name for an employee after being asked to do so.
• Harassing or badmouthing an employee who changes gender or transitions on the job.
• Disparaging an employee's performance on the grounds that their sexual orientation or gender expression makes other employees uncomfortable.

If you have been harassed or discriminated against in the workplace because of your sexual orientation or gender identity, whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, or straight, call a Seattle Washington sexual orientation and gender discrimination attorney and consider filing a discrimination charge or lawsuit against your employer. You may be able to recover monetary compensation for emotional distress, loss of wages, and other discrimination related costs.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of gay lesbian, bisexual,or transgender discrimination in Washington, please contact a sexual orientation discrimination attorney at Teller & Associates to discuss your case. The initial call is free.

Transgender Employment Assistance

The attorneys at Teller & Associates, PLLC can advise you about your rights on the job before, during, and after a workplace gender transition. We can help you determine the best way to communicate with your employer and coworkers about your gender change, and help you negotiate other logistics, such as restroom access, dress codes, and correct pronoun use. We can also assist you in obtaining identity documents which correctly reflect your appropriate name and gender to ensure that your transition happens as smoothly as possible. We are experienced in handling the needs of transgender clients knowledgeably and respectfully, and are committed to advocating for your civil rights with personal investment and passion.