When Jessi Dye showed up for her first day of work at Summerford Nursing Home, she had nothing but high hopes. She filled out her hiring paperwork, attended workshops and received vaccinations. Jessi was excited that the home had offered to pay for her training to become a certified nurse’s assistant.
But a few hours later, she was fired in one of the worst ways imaginable.
Robert Summerford, the manager of the company, called her into his office at lunch to discuss her paperwork.
As soon as Jessi walked through the door, Robert bluntly asked her “What are you?”
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“It was exactly like being punched in the stomach,” Jessi recalled to HuffPo.
And while Jessi may have been caught off guard, her new boss’ attitude was nothing new. As a trans woman living in Vinetown, Alabama, Jessi was used to awkward questions when her employers noticed the identity on her driver’s license doesn’t match the one she presents in person.
But Robert was especially nasty.
After she answered his question by explaining her situation — that she was born male and is transitioning to female — he came back at her with “What am I supposed to do with you?”
Then he fired her on the spot.
Jessi filed a workplace discrimination lawsuit with the help of the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center, and rather than see the matter reach a federal court, the company Robert works for agreed to settle, a smart move on their part.
Part of the settlement required the company to institute an official policy banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and to conduct sensitivity training regarding LGBTQ people.
A lawyer with the SPLC told HuffPo that the quick settlement should be seen as a sign of progress.
“I think the takeaway here is that we have a small company that is represented by competent lawyers and they saw the writing on the wall. It’s an admission that employers do need to pay attention to their obligations under federal law to not discriminate because of someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Federal law, however, remains a bit vague. Advocates have been unable to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would give clear-cut workplace protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Outside of congress, President Obama has signed an executive order protecting federal employees (and the employees of federal contractors) from anti-LGBTQ discrimination, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, created to enforce and implement the 1964 Civil Rights Act, ruled earlier this year that LGBTQ protections are covered under Title VII of the law.
But in the terrifying prospect of one of the many antigay, anti-trans conservatives running for president somehow occupying the Oval Office, we’d like to see the law become crystal clear.
Cases like Jessi’s bring us that much closer.
“I don’t want anybody else to have to go through what I went through that day,” she said.
Sand Nierenberg
I hope they gave u enough to live on u deserve it
Damian Healy
Tbh, it’s ridiculous that things like this can happen. Shouldn’t law-makers be more pro-active in ensuring equal rights for everyone? Does there need to be a constant wait for legal cases before action is taken. Write the law. Pass it. Done.
Why is that complicated?
Gothrykke
This is horrible. This young woman deserved better treatment, and I’m glad that those assholes settled rather than drag it out and exhaust her and everyone’s resources.
Our allies in the current congress had better keep wishing and hoping and trying, because when the democrats had a super majority, ENDA was kicked to the curb. A majority of them lost their jobs after that disaster. There’s not a chance it will happen right now, but if they want to keep working, they better keep trying.
Bailey Bednar
Even sadder is the fact he could have simply fired her for no reason stated at all.
Bob LaBlah
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of visiting someone in a nursing home whom you loved, partied with and can now only hold their hand and hope their last breath will come soon (due to no cure being available and their suffering) here is what the environment is like: people losing control of their bodily functions anywhere and anytime, people having no other choice but to be placed in diapers that have to be changed, floors that have to be constantly mopped because of vomit and such, toilet seats that have to be cleaned two or three times per day because the patient could barely make it to the seat or was so dirty once they arrived…..
Trust me, it was THEIR loss, not yours. If he was that stupid to ignore your showing up on time for work and willing to put up with people who had nothing else to do but watch the door in hope that one of the people coming thru that door was a loved one or those who had no hope left in them at all…….trust me, he did you a favor.
Imagine having to put up with all of that and to top it off an asshole boss who could never muster the two most important words between employee and supervisor, “good morning”, or whatever time of day it was. The turnover rate in that industry is VERY high indeed. And lets not even get into the low pay with damn near no benefits nor pension being offered.
zaneymcbanes
Good on her for not taking this lying down!
BlueDude
@Damian Healy: Most “lawmakers” don’t give a flip about such things. Perhaps, if we do get a Dem Prez, and majority in Congress, ENDA can pass now that there’s more awareness of the situation.
Louis
Bravo to this young woman this man was unbelievably rude and totally unprofessional.
I’m surprised he wasn’t fired for this he certainly should have been.
Louis
@BlueDude: sadly it’s not looking promising so far.
Hopefully the tides will change because if they don’t no matter who wins it will ultimately be detrimental to the LGBT community.
darkanser
From the narrative, I’m visualizing the scene. This boss calls her into the office and talks to her as if she failed to disclose that she committed murder or embezzled from her previous employer. When you’re confronted with unfair judgment/treatment from a person who wields power, it takes a steely “f*ck you” attitude to overcome. I wish her well.
n900mixalot
Now this was a battle worth fighting! Go Jessie!!!!
Giancarlo85
Someone is asking lawmakers in Alabama to care? ALABAMA?!?!?!? The same attitude the employer had is what the lawmakers in that backwards state has. I’m just waiting for that idiot Captain Obvious to show up and tell us we need to move to that state “to make changes”. I’m sorry, but I’d rather not.
Also, the same attitude displayed by the employer is prevalent in the US House of Representatives. The republican party hates us and wants to see all disappear. Think about that gay republicans before you make your stupid voting decisions.
jantheman4903
it IS a good sign in general that a settlement was reached so quickly. HR lawyers know what can’t be said..i wish she had been left alone but ..i remember HIV positive patients i worked with, dying before they got their settlement ala Philadelphia. it says to me there is already laws passed and cases settled..and now that place is safer for future workers.
Dakotahgeo
Congratulations, Jessi! I also hope you never have to experience that type of situation again either! I hope you took them for a few hundred thousand!
Blessings and peace, Pastor Dak!
rosebaker75
????Start your home business right now. Spend more time with your family and earn. Start bringing 78$/hr just on a c0mputer. Very easy way to make your life happy and earning continuously. Start here….
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Bisexual-Transwoman
Nothing she was asked was offensive. She should have told her boss that she can work in the nursing home when he asked, “What am I supposed to do with you?”
Jayne County
Life is sometimes unfair. Well, most of the time really! Jessie is beyond brave and beautiful!