Cases & Advocacy
O’Connor v. Pension Plan for Office Employees of the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.
In November 2016, NCLR and attorney Teresa Renaker appealed a decision by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony’s pension plan denying a spousal benefit to Thomas O’Connor, a retired employee, and his husband, Victor Bumbalo. The plan originally denied the benefit on the basis that federal law in effect when Mr. O’Connor retired in 2009 did not recognize the marriage.
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Broussard v. Tower Loan
On April 13, 2015, NCLR, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Altshuler Berzon LLP, and Delaney, Robb & Ruvin filed a lawsuit against Tower Loan for firing an employee because he is transgender.
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FAQ – Name and Gender Changes Post-Election 2016
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Cases & Advocacy
Schuett v. FedEx
On January 14, 2015, the widow of a longtime FedEx employee sued FedEx for refusing to provide her with federally required spousal pension benefits solely because both spouses were women.
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Pritchard v. IUOE Stationary Engineers Pension Plan
On January 22, 2016, the widower of a hotel telecommunications engineer in San Francisco sued the IUOE Stationary Engineers Local 39 Pension Plan and its Board of Trustees for refusing to provide him with a spousal pension benefit required by the terms of the pension plan and federal law, solely because both spouses are men.
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Federal Court Denies FedEx’s Attempt to Throw Out Suit by Widow of FedEx Employee Denied Pension Benefits Based on Her Spouse’s 26 years of Service to the Company
Legislation & Policy
California Senate Bill 703
On October 7, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a landmark bill that protects transgender people who work for companies doing business with state agencies.
Senate Bill 703, authored by California State Senator Mark Leno, prohibits state agencies from entering into a contract in the amount of $100,000 or more with a contractor who discriminates in the provision of benefits based on an employee’s gender identity.
SB 703, which went into effect on January 1, 2016, expands existing enforcement provisions in California contracting law by adding requirements that the Department of General Services provide a web based database listing all contracts subject to this provision, and establish a method for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of non-compliance.
SB 703 levels the playing field in state contracting between in-state and out-of-state companies while also ensuring that state tax dollars are used in a cost-effective manner and do not go to companies that discriminate.
The bill was co-sponsored by NCLR, Equality California, and the Transgender Law Center.
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Taylor v. Brasuell
- Relationships & Family
- Relationships & Family > Marriage & Relationships
- Discrimination
- Discrimination > Employment
On July 7, 2014, NCLR and Boise attorneys Deborah A. Ferguson and Craig Durham filed a lawsuit on behalf of Madelynn Lee Taylor, a 74-year-old military veteran who challenged Idaho state laws prohibiting her from being buried in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery with her late wife, Jean Mixner.
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Jamal v. Saks & Company
On January 20, 2015, NCLR and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) filed a joint friend-of-the-court brief supporting former Saks Fifth Avenue employee Leyth Jamal, who filed a case alleging that Saks discriminated against her for being transgender. In a request to dismiss the lawsuit, Saks argued that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect transgender workers.
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