Transgender Teen Files Complaint Against McDonald’s

Hudson · 12-09-2009, 10:30 AM

A transgender teen in Orlando has filed a complaint against McDonald’s after a manager refused to interview her and subsequently left a message on her answering machine containing a common epithet. Zikerria Bellamy applied for a job at McDonald’s in July and left the box on her application for gender blank. The online application specifically says that field is optional, but when she arrived for an interview, the manager insisted she fill in the field. After checking the box that said “Male”, he terminated the interview. Zikerria returned a second time to try speaking to a different manager who also refused to speak to her and then followed up with a message on her voice mail (see below).

The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund has filed a complaint with Florida’s Commission on Human Relations on Bellamy’s behalf, claiming that McDonald’s violated the Florida Civil Rights Act. Florida law does not explicitly prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual identity or sexual orientation, but administrative agencies have in the past ruled that the sex and disability provisions of the Florida Civil Rights Act protects transgendered individuals.

Below is a copy of the message left on Bellamy’s voice mail. This message includes strong language and is not work safe.

LINK to voicemail msg and article

Hudson · 12-09-2009, 10:38 AM

Apparently if you're questioning your gender identity or presenting as the gender you yourself feel you are (you confused little thing, you) McDonald's is administering a simple test free of charge (minus the gas or bus fare you used to motor yourself on over there looking for work). All you have to do is pick up an application, leave the Gender box blank, drop it off and a manager or someone in charge will give you the once over and assign your new gender! So I encourage each and every one of my trans brothers and sisters to get on over to your local Mickey D's and let them know you're there for the 'gender test' (or a 'job', as these passwords are interchangeable). I believe they even follow it up with a phone call to confirm your result when it's finalized. Good luck!

Linus · 12-09-2009, 11:05 AM

Actually, McD's fired the manager. See this thread: http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...read.php?t=493

They did the right thing while the manager (or employee) did the wrong thing.

Apocalipstic · 12-09-2009, 11:12 AM

I hope this will be a wake up call for employers to implement mandatory sensitivity training for their management!

Hudson · 12-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linus

Actually, McD's fired the manager. See this thread: http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...read.php?t=493

They did the right thing while the manager (or employee) did the wrong thing.

Yeah, I read the article Linus. Thank you. (sorry I didn't see your thread - I did do a search). My post after the OP was a joking jab at the situation, not McDonald's. (Florida and no federal ENDA are to blame here) He actually wasn't even a manager and had no authority to hire. And it's great they fired him BUT what are they going to do now? Will they hire her? Give her a settlement? Or will they fight with her? We don't know that yet. I have been searching for McD's non-discrimination policy and I can't find it and I have yet to come across anything that says it specifically names transgendered people or gender identity within it. (If anyone has an employee manual or can find this info, please enlighten us).

NotAnAverageGuy · 12-09-2009, 05:42 PM

I am not totally positive but I have had friends that worked for mcd's and they say they don't discriminate based on gender, race, sexual orientation, etc etc, there is no clear terms on Trans folks

Linus · 12-09-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson

Yeah, I read the article Linus. Thank you. (sorry I didn't see your thread - I did do a search). My post after the OP was a joking jab at the situation, not McDonald's. (Florida and no federal ENDA are to blame here) He actually wasn't even a manager and had no authority to hire. And it's great they fired him BUT what are they going to do now? Will they hire her? Give her a settlement? Or will they fight with her? We don't know that yet. I have been searching for McD's non-discrimination policy and I can't find it and I have yet to come across anything that says it specifically names transgendered people or gender identity within it. (If anyone has an employee manual or can find this info, please enlighten us).

You know, if I was her and went through this, I wouldn't want to work for them. At this point, she has been forced to publicly out herself on a national level. I'd imagine (based on the responses to the YouTube video she posted) she'd get even more personal hate comments (not something you need or deserve when doing a job of any kind).

I'm hoping that they do some kind of settlement so she won't have to endure this elsewhere. As far as McD's non-discrimination policy it doesn't have anything. And reality is that it's the state level laws that they'd have to abide by (which means she technically has no protection as a trans individual but would have protection under other mechanisms).

12-09-2009, 10:30 AM	#1
Hudson Member How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him Relationship Status: Truth is stranger than fiction. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 434 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 160 Thanked 575 Times in 211 Posts Rep Power: 365376	Transgender Teen Files Complaint Against McDonald’s A transgender teen in Orlando has filed a complaint against McDonald’s after a manager refused to interview her and subsequently left a message on her answering machine containing a common epithet. Zikerria Bellamy applied for a job at McDonald’s in July and left the box on her application for gender blank. The online application specifically says that field is optional, but when she arrived for an interview, the manager insisted she fill in the field. After checking the box that said “Male”, he terminated the interview. Zikerria returned a second time to try speaking to a different manager who also refused to speak to her and then followed up with a message on her voice mail (see below). The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund has filed a complaint with Florida’s Commission on Human Relations on Bellamy’s behalf, claiming that McDonald’s violated the Florida Civil Rights Act. Florida law does not explicitly prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual identity or sexual orientation, but administrative agencies have in the past ruled that the sex and disability provisions of the Florida Civil Rights Act protects transgendered individuals. Below is a copy of the message left on Bellamy’s voice mail. This message includes strong language and is not work safe. LINK to voicemail msg and article

12-09-2009, 11:05 AM	#3
Linus The Planet's Technical Bubba How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him/Geek Relationship Status: Married to my forever! Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,440 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,929 Thanked 10,743 Times in 3,176 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	Actually, McD's fired the manager. See this thread: http://www.butchfemmeplanet.com/foru...read.php?t=493 They did the right thing while the manager (or employee) did the wrong thing. __________________ Personal Blog \|\| [] \|\| Cigar Blog "We become Human Doings instead of Human Beings." -- Ram Dass

12-09-2009, 11:12 AM	#4
Apocalipstic Pink Confection How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, Her, Ma'am Relationship Status: Dating Myself Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Nashville Posts: 4,266 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 17,195 Thanked 11,383 Times in 2,840 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	I hope this will be a wake up call for employers to implement mandatory sensitivity training for their management! __________________

12-09-2009, 10:38 AM	#2
Hudson Member How Do You Identify?: FTM Preferred Pronoun?: He/Him Relationship Status: Truth is stranger than fiction. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 434 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 160 Thanked 575 Times in 211 Posts Rep Power: 365376	Apparently if you're questioning your gender identity or presenting as the gender you yourself feel you are (you confused little thing, you) McDonald's is administering a simple test free of charge (minus the gas or bus fare you used to motor yourself on over there looking for work). All you have to do is pick up an application, leave the Gender box blank, drop it off and a manager or someone in charge will give you the once over and assign your new gender! So I encourage each and every one of my trans brothers and sisters to get on over to your local Mickey D's and let them know you're there for the 'gender test' (or a 'job', as these passwords are interchangeable). I believe they even follow it up with a phone call to confirm your result when it's finalized. Good luck!

12-09-2009, 05:42 PM	#6
NotAnAverageGuy Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Trans Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,723 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 109 Thanked 282 Times in 178 Posts Rep Power: 0	I am not totally positive but I have had friends that worked for mcd's and they say they don't discriminate based on gender, race, sexual orientation, etc etc, there is no clear terms on Trans folks