A gay model was attacked in the District of Columbia, a trans woman in New York sued Hooters for discrimination, and the attempt to remove LGBTQ student protections was reversed in New Jersey.
Gay Model Attacked At McDonald’s
D.C. police are investigating an attack on gay model Sebastian Thomas Robles Lascarro, where as many as 15 people blocked an exit and one called him a homophobic slur while assaulting him.
Lascarro said the incident started when the attackers claimed he didn’t say “excuse me,” according to The Washington Post.
Lascarro was hospitalized but is now recovering at home. His husband, Stuart West, said police initially weren’t going to investigate it as a hate crime.
West said he pushed police and other city officials to upgrade the investigation to reflect the slur that was reportedly hurled at Lascarro.
Trans Woman Sues Hooters For Discrimination
Photo by Anthony92931, Wikimedia Commons.
A trans woman sued Hooters for sex-based discrimination.
According to ABC News 10, Brandy Livingston said management and other employees at a local Hooters she wanted to work at did not respect her, often misgendering her.
“They would use male pronouns. They would refer to me as he,” she said.
Livingston also alleged that workers would harass her when using the restroom.
Livingston said she tried applying to the location three times, but refused to look at her experience and told her an “image needed to be met.”
Hooters denied these claims, stating Livingston wasn’t hired after she allegedly made sexual comments to servers on multiple occasions.
Attempt To Remove LGBTQ Student Protections Reversed
Superintendent of Schools Edward Alderelli. Photo via edison.k12.nj.us.
The township of Edison school board voted to keep a policy protecting LGBTQ student rights after previously choosing to repeal it, according to MyCentralJersey.
School districts aren’t required to inform parents about a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation if they confide in a teacher under Policy 5756. The policy also allows transgender students to participate in gender-segregated activities and utilize school facilities that align with their gender identity.
The board initially voted to repeal this policy on Sept. 30 after only minutes of discussion.
After that vote, Superintendent of Schools Edward Aldarelli said he was committed to following the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
"I will continue to ensure that all students in Edison Township Public Schools are served fairly and in accordance with the law," Aldarelli said. "We are currently discussing this matter with the Board of Education attorneys, and I will keep the community informed of further developments."
At the seven-hour meeting, the board reversed its decision after hearing from parents, therapists, psychiatrists and teachers on how repealing the eight-year-old policy would harm students.
