A New Jersey Appeals Court ruled that gender identity and expression is covered under anti-discrimination laws when it ruled in favor of Carla Enriquez, who sued after she was abruptly fired. Enriquez was hired as a medical director in 1995 when she was still appearing in public as a man, but found herself terminated after she began dressing like a women.
While this represents a victory for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, it comes on the heals of a setback. The National Education Association stopped consideration of a resolution to urge schools to develop materials supporting the struggles of LGBT students and staff. Instead, the NEA said the teachers’ union will form a task force to further examine the issue before any action is taken.
