A transgender former nursing assistant at a Pennsylvania senior care community is suing the operator, alleging that it didn’t do enough to make her feel welcome on the job.
Gardens for Memory Care, in Easton, PA, first hired the worker in spring of 2017. After coming aboard, coworkers at the facility repeatedly referred to her as “he,” rather than “she,” the former nursing assistant alleges. She told lehighvalleylive.com that she is is keeping her identity secret out of fear of reprisals.
Her former male name was frequently listed on the assignment sheet, and she was often embarrassed to be identified as a male. In another instance, she allegedly overheard a coworker saying, “He’s going to have to ask for forgiveness if he doesn’t want to go to hell.”
The nursing assistant alleges she was fired because she complained to the director of nursing about coworkers’ behavior.
In a statement to McKnight’s, Gardens for Memory Care — a facility that caters exclusively to those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and also offers skilled nursing services — said it does not stand for such actions.
“The Gardens for Memory Care at Easton has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind,” spokesman Michael Fragin said. “The Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and boasts a diverse workforce. Given the pending legal proceeding, we are unable to comment on any specific incident or allegation.”
