Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - T.C. Wheelers Bar and Pizzeria owners agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a discrimination complaint filed by a transgender man, who says he was harassed to the point he quit his job.
According to the EEOC's lawsuit, the owners and staff of the restaurant verbally harassed Quinn Gambino, a transgender man, by making crude and derogatory references to his transgender status, including telling him that he "wasn't a real man," and asking invasive questions about his transition and genitalia.
Under the three-year decree settling the suit, T.C. Wheelers agreed to pay Gambino $25,000 in back pay and compensatory damages. The decree provides that T.C. Wheelers institutes and enforces equal employment opportunity policies that include a strong and clear commitment to preventing unlawful sex discrimination and harassment, including discrimination and harassment towards transgender persons. To ensure compliance, T.C. Wheelers has hired an independent human resources monitor who will supervise and investigate all employee complaints.
Additionally, all owners, managers, and employees will be required to complete training on federal anti-discrimination employment laws, with a special emphasis on issues relating to gender identity and expression. T.C. Wheelers, through its independent human resource monitor, will provide annual reports to the EEOC regarding its implementation of these and other terms of the decree, and the EEOC will retain the right to inspect the company's business records and premises to ensure compliance.
"We appreciate T.C. Wheeler's agreement to settle this lawsuit and make proactive changes, and we are proud to have obtained an effective resolution that compensates Gambino for what he endured and helps ensure that other transgender employees will be treated fairly in the future," said Jeffrey Burstein, regional attorney for the EEOC's New York District Office.
EEOC New York District Director Yaw Gyebi, Jr. added, "The EEOC considers protecting members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be an important enforcement priority. We will continue to assure that transgender employees receive the full benefit of federal anti-discrimination laws in all industries."
