EEOC Settles Sexual Orientation Lawsuit

The EEOC recently announced that Pallet Companies will pay $202,200 and provide other equitable relief to settle one of the first lawsuits that the EEOC brought alleging sex discrimination based on sexual orientation.  The EEOC’s lawsuit alleged that a lesbian employee suffered repeated harassment from her supervisor because of the employee’s sexual orientation.  The supervisor allegedly made inappropriate comments like “I want to turn you back into a woman” and “you would look good in a dress.”  The EEOC further charged that the company retaliated against the employee by terminating her only days after she reported the incidents to management and the company’s employee hotline.  The EEOC argued that this alleged conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.  See EEOC v. Pallet Cos., No. 1:16-cv-00595 (D. Md.).