The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Workers’ Rights Project helps low-income workers address discrimination, harassment, and other problems at work because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Established in 2000, the LGBT Workers’ Rights Project works to ensure that existing law is interpreted and expanded to protect such workers.
California law prohibits employers with 5 or more employees from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and/or gender expression. In addition, in California, harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and/or gender expression is unlawful at workplaces with one or more employee. Employers have a duty to prevent and correct harassment whether it is committed by a supervisor, manager, coworker, customer, or other third party.
The Project provides free legal education, counseling, advocacy and assistance to minimize barriers to employment and to help low-income LGBT workers to resolve problems of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
The tools we use include:
Advice and Information:
LAS–ELC provides free legal information and assistance to LGBT individuals through the Workers’ Rights Clinic and through the Gender Equity & LGBT Rights Program at 415-864-8848.
Legal Representation:
The LAS-ELC represents workers who have been subjected to unlawful workplace discrimination and harassment. We provide direct legal services, from pursuing administrative complaints to litigating cases in state and federal court.
Policy Advocacy:
The LAS-ELC participates in efforts to expand workers’ rights to be free from discrimination and harassment.
Public Education and Outreach:
The LAS-ELC offers workshops and trainings for workers and advocates about discrimination and harassment laws. We also provide self-help tools, fact sheets, and other reference materials in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Collaboration:
LAS–ELC collaborates with a range of advocates and communities to identify and strengthen the common interests of persons with disabilities, LGBT people, women, people of color, immigrants, language minorities, labor unions, military families and veterans, and working people with caretaking obligations.