In accordance with the federal law of the United States of America and the state of California, you have the right to mention to your employer that you will change your birth gender without retaliation or any sign of discrimination.
In this regard, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Federal Civil Rights Act (Title VII) make it illegal for any employer to fire, demote, or not hire a worker based on gender issues.
Likewise, if the company, company or any other colleague incurs discriminatory crimes or harassment, these can also be reported to the authorities, which is applicable for reasons of salary payments, work overload, verbal abuse, among others.
Transgender Rights: Current Affairs in California
In general, transgender people enjoy the same rights as all other California citizens, as we have already mentioned, at least legally speaking. However, this does not mean that they always receive equal treatment, be it in work, public, private spaces, etc.
Despite this, some specific and mandatory rights of transgender people in California workplaces include, for example, the use of bathrooms that correspond to the person’s gender identity, recognition of official documents, as well as to be called by the pronoun they prefer or, change the legal name when they consider it necessary.
This law, which came into force in 2019, has allowed many people from the LGBTQ community to improve their personal, housing, and work conditions, especially those who wanted to change their gender identity and feared being harassed or discriminated against for this. particular reason.
In addition, this obliges the authorities and state institutions to protect the rights of transgender people and to ensure them, since before there were few possibilities that they would be able to assist them or take seriously the complaint they filed for labor abuses.
How do I guarantee my employment rights as a transgender person in California?
If you are in your transition process, and want to complete it before you return to work, there are some steps that can help you ensure that your rights are protected by California law.
The first thing will be to obtain the name change and a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC). These documents will indicate to any employer, company or company, that you have the correct gender identity and which is recognized under the current laws of the country.
The second step is about making sure you have all your medical documents updated and up to date. This will, of course, include records of all surgeries and treatments you have had, as well as any hormone therapy you are on or have used.
Finally, get reliable medical insurance that adequately covers the treatments related to your gender transition.
Generally, job insurance companies do not cover this type of surgery or only a small part of them. Therefore, it is important that you choose the one indicated if you think you may need one, especially if your job does not or will not cover any injury or accident related to aesthetic or cosmetic interventions that have the objective of improving your image due to your gender change.
In short, if you are a transgender person in California, remember that your rights will always be guaranteed by the state and the country.
However, if you need legal assistance, because you have labor conflicts due to discrimination or abuse of some kind, and motivated by your gender identity, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer or legal firm. They will be able to provide you with solutions so that you can take actions according to your case and achieve the well-being you deserve, be it after a trial or a composition.