Trans restaurant worker claims boss told her to ‘go home’ if she couldn’t handle death threats from customers
A cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and a donut bag sit on a counter. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
A trans Dunkin’ Donuts employee, brutally beaten by customers, was allegedly told by management to quit if she couldn’t handle the abuse.
In a stinging lawsuit, the woman, identified as ‘Jane Doe’ worked at the fast-food branch in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, reported Lehigh Valley Live.
Across three months earlier this year, the 25-year-old suffered a torrent of transphobia from fellow staff as well as customers in March to May 2018.
Her supervisor at the branch allegedly misgendered her frequently, calling her “dude” as well as using “he” pronouns, the complaint stated.
Trans employee suffered transphobia from staff and customers alike.
Management also instructed her not to use the single-sex bathroom that aligns with her gender because customers “weren’t comfortable” with her in the women’s facilities.
Soon, the anti-trans attitudes spilled onto the shop floor, as customers then began to refuse to be served by her.
The backlash bubbled until three customers earlier this year attacked her. Calling her “f****t” and threatened to kill her.
Her manager, the claim said, simply shrugged off concerns and stated: “If you don’t feel safe, go home.”
A person holds a transgender pride flag outside the Stonewall Inn at a 2019 rally. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)
Heading home and reporting the incident to local law enforcement, she returned to work only to find her name completely wiped off from the restaurant’s work schedule.
Doe was fired for taking too much time off work at short notice, the manager alleged. A claim she flatly denies, the suit continued.
As a result, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency.
Pennsylvania’s civil rights legislation does not directly ban discrimination against LGBT+ people, but the state’s Human Relations Commission said last year that it interprets the state ban on sex-based discrimination to include discrimination against LGBT+ people.
The manager named in the suit said: “I believe that was already handled and the case was resolved.”
While a Dunkin’ Donut spokesperson informed the paper that the company is unable to comment on pending litigation.
The lawsuit does not specify how much, if any, the employee is seeking in damages.
