Date: Mon, 03 May 1999 18:06:09 -0700 From: Clare Howell Subject: IYF-Lawsuit over sex stereotyping MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org Contacts: Jennifer Levi, Mary Bonauto (617)426-1350 GLAD FILES DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST BANK ALLEGING ILLEGAL SEX STEREOTYPING ==================================================== [Boston, MA: 4 May 99] THE GAY & LESBIAN ADVOCATES & Defenders (GLAD) has filed a suit against Park West Bank and Trust Co. of Holyoke on behalf of Lucas Rosa who was denied a loan application based on her expression of gender. When Rosa appeared at the bank dressed as a woman and asked for a loan application, the bank officer asked for 3 pieces of identification. Rosa, who identifies as transgendered, presented 3 photo IDs. In one, she looked like a man; in another, a woman; in the other, of indeterminate gender. The loan officer refused to give Rosa an application, saying that, until Rosa went home and changed into men's clothing, she would not provide an application. Said GLAD attorney Jennifer Levi, "The U.S. Supreme Court said (in Hopkins v. Price Waterhouse, 1989) that sex stereotyping is impermissible sex discrimination. Lots of people do not fit society's rigid definition of what counts as male and female. Refusing to provide service or extend credit to a person who was born male but appears in female clothing and often passes for a woman is impermissible sex stereotyping. Both state and federal law forbid such practices." ### FEDERAL JUDGE RULES FOR TRANSEXUAL PRISONER DENIED HORMONES ================================================== [San Francisco, CA: 3 May 99] A U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE in Sacramento has ordered the California Dept. of Corrections to pay damages to Torey South for arbitrarily suspending her hormone therapy when she was transferred between 2 state prisons. The Judge ruled that prison officals "acted with deliberate indifference to [South's] serious medical need." South was an inmate at the California Medical Facility at Vacaville serving a 3 year sentence for robbery. While there she was diagnosed as a transexual and placed on female hormones. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that, after 18 months at Vacaville, South was transferred to the facility at San Luis Obispo. There she pleaded with medical professionals to give her hormones but they refused. She suffered hot flashes, dizziness, vomiting, and loss of breast tissue as a result. Ms. South won a temporary court order to get hormones while the issue was being adjudicated. She was released on parole last year. A jury trial will now be held to determine the amount of money she will receive as compensation. ### Subscriptions. Please contact: Subscribe@Gpac.org For prior releases, check the GenderPAC website at: http://www.gpac.org (c) 1999 InYourFace GenderPAC's online news-only service for gender activism.