North Alabama lawyer weighs in on workplace rights amid USSRC Space Camp counselor allegation
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Earlier this week, several Alabama politicians voiced their concerns about the safety of children at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp after a parent complained about the presence of a transgender employee.
In a Facebook post, that parent said he learned a transgender counselor was a Space Camp ‘Team Lead’ and could potentially be in camp dorm halls with female students.
USSRC responds to lawmakers voicing concerns about Space Camp counselor
Many may be wondering what might happen to the employee moving forward. One area lawyer is weighing in on what your workplace rights are.
“In America, you have the right to be free from discrimination in the workplace based on the protected class that has been identified by the Supreme Court of the United States,” Timberlake, League, & Brooks Lawyer Will League stated. “They have clearly extended that protection in Bostock v. Georgia in that sexual orientation cannot be discriminated against in America.”
In the U.S., legal protections are enacted on a federal, state, and local level. Currently, there are no specific federal laws prohibiting discrimination against transgender people, but some court rulings include discrimination against trans people in federal laws banning discrimination based on sex.
League tells News 19 that the alleged space camp counselor facing backlash for identifying as a trans person has rights under Alabama and federal law. He also says lawmakers like U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and U.S. Congressman Dale Strong should not be advising the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center to remove this person.
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“That employee has rights under Alabama and federal law,” League said. “Those lawmakers are advising Huntsville Space and Rocket Center to violate the law, fire this employee, and open up Huntsville Space and Rocket Center to potential liability for their actions if they were to follow their advice.”
According to League, sexual orientation and transgender persons are protected and cannot be discriminated against in the workplace. He says if this employee is fired for their identity alone, their rights would be violated under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
“You also have to look at a balancing factor to protect the kids going to camp and protect that particular employee’s right to retain gainful employment if he or she is not doing anything wrong,” League stated.
In this case, League says Alabama law reflects federal law. He says a person cannot be discriminated against based on age, sex, religion, gender identity, or expression in the workplace.
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“Alabama follows the federal law and has to follow it when the Supreme Courts issue the law of the land,” League said. “To violate that violates Alabama law and federal law which would open up Huntsville Space and Rocket Center to a future liability in the way of a lawsuit.”
In a statement released by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Monday, the rocket center said children’s safety is a top priority and that it would look into any allegations of misconduct.
News 19 has reached out to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for an update, but we have not heard back from them.
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