Employment Law
Los Angeles Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys
Protecting the Rights of Employees in LA
Most people equate Los Angeles with progressive values and inclusivity. Unfortunately, discrimination based on sexual orientation still poses a problem—especially in the workplace. Los Angeles sexual orientation discrimination lawyers fight for LGBTQ+ rights, fostering employment equality throughout the city.
Armed with legal expertise and a deep commitment to justice, the employment law advocates at King & Siegel LLP are uniquely qualified to address your sexual orientation discrimination claim. For employees grappling with sexual orientation discrimination issues, here’s a snapshot of a few of the skills and services we offer:
- Comprehensive knowledge. Given our extensive experience with sexual orientation discrimination, we understand all pertinent laws, regulatory frameworks, and legal precedents.
- In-depth case assessment. We will extensively evaluate your situation to ascertain the potential for a successful outcome.
- Dynamic problem-solving techniques. Whether through mediation, negotiation, or a courtroom trial, we design tailored strategies that cater to your best interest.
- Expert negotiation skills. We can negotiate with your employer, human resources, or other legal entities to advocate for reasonable workplace accommodations and strive for an equitable resolution.
- Proven courtroom expertise. If negotiations or administrative actions are unsuccessful, we are prepared to litigate on your behalf, bringing effective representation to the courtroom.
Maximizing financial restitution. We can help you pursue appropriate financial compensation, including back pay, restoration of lost benefits, and potential compensatory damages.
Unfortunately, workplace discrimination still runs rampant among many employers. When you suffer such injustice, it is important to know that you are not alone in the fight King & Siegel LLP’s employment law firm is here to protect your rights. You can trust our Los Angeles sexual orientation discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles to wage war against inequality.
What Are the Laws That Protect Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination in California?
One benefit that comes with living in California is that there are key state and federal laws that protect employees from employer discrimination, whether such discrimination is for someone’s sexual orientation, expression, or identity.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Initially, Title VII prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. However, a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2020, Bostock v. Clayton County, extended Title VII protections to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This means employers cannot discriminate in hiring, firing, promotions, or other terms and conditions of employment based on an employee’s sexual orientation.
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
The FEHA prohibits discrimination based on several characteristics, including sexual orientation. This means employers can’t fire, demote, or otherwise mistreat employees based on their sexual orientation.
Senate Bill 396 Transgender Work Opportunity Act
Although this bill focuses primarily on gender identity and expression, it complements the protections already available under FEHA for sexual orientation. Employers must provide training programs for their staff that address harassment related to gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
California Penal Code Section 422.56
This law expands the definition of hate crimes to include crimes committed based on the victim’s sexual orientation. The code provides additional protections and penalties, strengthening the deterrent against discriminatory acts in and out of the workplace.
Each of these laws has its procedures for filing complaints. Penalties for violating them include fines, mandatory training, changes in employer policies, and, in some cases, criminal charges. Because they differ, it’s crucial to consult with an LGBT+ discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles who has experience with sexual orientation discrimination.
What Does Discrimination Against Sexual Orientation Look Like?
Sometimes discrimination against an employee’s sexual orientation can be extremely overt, such as firing a worker who states that she is a lesbian. However, is far more typical for a prejudiced employer to try to hide their bias. Rather than demonstrate bias in a manner others can easily observe leading to an HR complaint, employers often tend to be very subtle in their discrimination. For example, they might try to make workers so miserable that they force them to quit rather than continue to suffer their intolerable working conditions.
Some subtle examples of sexual orientation discrimination include:
- Either refusing to promote or disqualifying an employee based on their sexual orientation or identity;
- Making situations, events, or environments where a person of a certain sexual orientation would feel uncomfortable, ashamed, or unwelcome;
- Behaving in a harassing manner, or allowing others to engage in sexual harassment or verbal discrimination with the intention that the employee would resign;
- Implemented seeming “neutral” policies made against the expression of sexual orientation, or related activities, in the hopes of finding an excuse to fire the targeted employee not adhering to the “rules”; and
- Giving more opportunities for training and better work assignments to members of a particular sexual orientation.
If you’ve experienced these or any other instances of sexual orientation discrimination, King & Siegel LLP can help. We offer aggressive expertise and a client-first philosophy, making us an outstanding choice for representation.
What Should I Do If I Experience Sexual Orientation Discrimination?
Over eight million workers in the U.S. identify as LGBT+. And 45.5% reported experiencing unfair treatment at work, including being fired, not hired, or harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, hostile work environment and harassment are problems. If sexual orientation discrimination at work has touched your life, take the following steps:
- Document any incidents. Make a detailed record of each discriminatory incident you experience, noting the date, time, location, individuals involved, and what occurred.
- Collect evidence. Secure relevant evidence like emails, text messages, or other records.
- Follow company procedures. Read your employee handbook to find out how to report discrimination. Follow guidelines to avoid harming your chances of prevailing if you file a legal complaint.
- Report the discrimination. Notify your human resources department, adhering to the procedures outlined in your employee handbook. When reporting, provide all the details and evidence you’ve gathered.
- Consult witnesses. If anyone witnessed the discrimination, consider asking them to make a statement supporting your claim.
- Consult an attorney. It’s crucial to consult with an LGBT+ discrimination attorney in Los Angeles. They can guide you through the legal process, help you gather evidence, and represent you in interactions with your employer or during legal proceedings.
- File an official complaint. If your employer fails to take appropriate action or retaliates against you for reporting discrimination, you can file a complaint with the proper government agency—usually the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the California Department of Fair Housing and Employment (DFEH), or the DFEH civil rights enforcement division. Â
Every case is unique, although these steps represent a general framework, speaking with an experienced attorney to explore case-specific options is essential.
What Should I Do If a Non-Employee Harasses Me at Work?
If non-employees such as vendors, consultants, or clients are harassing you at work, the situation can be more complex. Although your employer may not directly control these individuals, they are still responsible for providing a safe work environment.
The best thing you can do is follow the steps in the previous section. Additionally, be sure to ask your employer to take immediate action to stop the harassment. This could involve reassigning you or the non-employee, terminating the vendor’s contract, or other appropriate measures.
If the harassment continues or your employer fails to take satisfactory action, consult an experienced attorney. They can advise you on the next steps, including filing a complaint with government agencies or filing a lawsuit against your employer or the individual harasser. Be sure to keep up your records if additional harassment occurs. Include any retaliatory actions your employer or others take after filing your complaint, as retaliation is illegal under most anti-discrimination laws.
Supporting You Against Discrimination Cases
Our Los Angeles sexual orientation discrimination attorneys have experience defending our clients from a wide variety of cruel discrimination. We are not afraid to stand up to employers or people who hinder or violate the rights of any human being, simply because of their sexual orientation.
Some cases where we successfully supported our clients in getting their rightful recompense have included circumstances where:
- Individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT+) have received unequal wages or salaries;
- Companies have refused to give any job positions to or promote LGBTQ+ individuals;
- Employers have fired individuals for admitting they were LGBT+;
- Supervisors have cut LGBTQ+ people’s hours, benefits, promotions, or opportunities; and
- Employers or colleagues have participated in overt or subtle bullying and harassment targeting an employee’s sexual orientation, such as name calling, crude gestures, or other demeaning behavior.
If you believe you are being discriminated against in the workplace because of your sexual orientation King & Siegel LLP welcomes you to call our legal team today at (213) 465-4802 for a free case review.
Committed Representation
California designed its laws to safeguard people of any sexual orientation, in the same manner that they protect people who have experienced prejudice because of their ethnicity, religion, disability, race, or age. Here at King & Siegel LLP, you can trust our sexual orientation discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles to stand by your side.
Our experienced legal team also handles other types of discrimination cases, including:
- Age Discrimination,
- Disability Discrimination,
- Gender Discrimination,
- Parental Status Discrimination,
- Pregnancy Discrimination,
- Race Discrimination, and
- Religious Discrimination.
If you want a Los Angeles sexual orientation discrimination lawyer with a proven track record and a client-focused approach, look no further. With a history of securing over $45 million in settlements and court verdicts, King & Siegel LLP offers nuanced and empathetic legal counsel, tailoring strategies that align closely with your distinct circumstances. We will work hard to make your legal journey as seamless as possible.