Saks Claims Right To Discriminate Against Transgender Worker

(RTTNews) - Luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue claims it has the right to discriminate against transgendered employees.

Leyth Jamal, a transgender former employee of Saks, filed an employment discrimination lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 alleging discrimination and harassment/hostile work environment based on her gender identity.

Legal news site Law360 reports that Jamal claims Saks told her to "separate her home life from her work life" and adopt a more masculine appearance while on duty as a sales associate at the Houston Galleria Mall.

The company has not publicly addressed the legitimacy of Jamal's specific allegations.

Regardless, Saks wants the lawsuit dismissed "because transsexuals are not a protected class under Title VII," the part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that bans employment discrimination based on race, religion, or sex, according to a motion filed in federal court.

Last week, LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) suspended Saks Fifth Avenue's Corporate Equality Index score -- most recently, a 90 out of 100.

"While HRC honors the right of the company to vigorously defend itself against allegations of misconduct, the arguments made in Saks' court filings go well beyond arguing the veracity of the allegations," the group wrote.