Derek Smith Law Group / Employment Law / Sexual Orientation Discrimination / Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorney New York City

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorney New York City

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What Is Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation in New York City?
Contact Our Experienced New York City Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys for Your Free Consultation
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Sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace in New York City can occur whether you are heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. When an employee or job applicant is treated unfairly or harassed by an employer, CEO, supervisor or manager, co-worker, client or customer, vendor or non-employee because he or she fits in one of these categories then the person has become the victim of sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace.

Both federal and state laws prohibit this type of activity. For over 25 years, the experienced attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group have helped victims, just like you, get the justice you deserve.

What Is Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation in New York City?

As an employee or job applicant, your sexual orientation should not play a role in any employment decision. However, when an employer, CEO, supervisor/manager, co-worker, client/customer, vendor, or non-employee treats you unfairly or harasses you because of your sexual orientation or even their perception of your sexual orientation, they are breaking the law. Whether you are heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual, is your personal business and you are entitled to be out in the open with your sexual orientation without retaliation or discrimination in the workplace.

What Law Protect Employees from Sexual Orientation in New York City?

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, sexual orientation is protected as a form of sex discrimination. Therefore, it is prohibited for an employer of 15 or more employees to discriminate against you based on your sexual orientation in the same manner any sex discrimination would be prohibited under the law.

Federal employees are protected from sexual orientation discrimination under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and Executive Order 13087 of 1998.

Therefore, anyone working for the federal government in any capacity is protected from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. In New York City, the New York Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) prohibits discrimination against any employee who is a member of the LGBTQ community on the basis of sexual orientation.

What Evidence is Needed to Prove Sexual Orientation Discrimination in New York City?

If you have been the victim of sexual orientation discrimination in your workplace in New York City, you need evidence to bring your case to court. There are three types of evidence that can help prove your case: direct; disparate; and policy.

Direct Evidence. Direct evidence is exactly as it sounds. It leaves nothing to the imagination and is often called the “smoking gun.” When you are told directly or indirectly that you are being treated unfairly or harassed because of your sexual orientation, you may have direct evidence for your discrimination claim. The evidence can be verbal or in writing and can be said or sent directly to you or someone else about you.

Disparate Evidence. Disparate evidence is when you can prove a connection between unfair treatment or harassment and your sexual orientation. This is a much more common form of evidence. Typically, with disparate evidence, there is a cause and effect relationship that proves a culture within the office or continually discriminatory behavior, such as showing that no homosexual employees are ever promoted to a certain level and you are homosexual and were denied the promotion as well.

Policy Evidence. Policy evidence is when a policy leads to discrimination simply by following it. For example, a policy may state that when an employee marries a member of the opposite sex then the spouse should be offered insurance. The policy discriminates against same-sex couples through compensation.

What Are Some Examples of Sexual Orientation Discrimination in New York City?

Sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace can take several forms. It does not matter whether you are homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual. It also does not matter if the person discriminating against you is a member of the LGBTQ community. Here are some examples of sexual orientation discrimination that may occur in your workplace.

Your supervisor demotes you because he found out you are gay
Your co-worker makes crude jokes about bisexual individuals even after you are clear that you are offended
Your boss refuses to put you on a project for a Lesbian client because you are straight
Your manager fires you because you complained to HR about his use of homophobic slurs in the workplace
You boss refuses to offer your same-sex spouse insurance on your health plan even though you are legally married
Your boss outs you to your co-workers even though you specifically asked him to keep your sexuality to himself
You are harassed by your co-worker because you are homosexual
Your co-worker keeps sending emails with homosexual jokes that you make clear offend you
Your homosexual boss tells you that you are not “gay enough” and that you need to “flaunt it more”
Your co-worker thinks you are gay and keeps trying to ask you on a date even though you have repeatedly told him you are not interested, and you are not gay

What Is the Statute of Limitations to File a Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim in New York City?

If you want to file a claim for sexual orientation discrimination under Title VII, you must file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC gives a time limit of 300 days from the date the last incident of discrimination occurred. They will then investigate the claim to make sure it falls under the guidelines of Title VII and issue you a Right to Sue letter. Form there you have a time limit of 80 days to file the complaint in federal court.

If you wish to file a claim under SONDA, you have two options. You may choose to file a claim with the New York State Division of Human Rights. You have 1 year from the date of the last incident of discrimination to do so.

Your other option is to file a complaint directly with the court. The statute of limitations to file with the court is 3 years from the date of the last incident of discrimination.

What Remedies Are Available Through the Courts for Sexual Orientation Discrimination in New York City?

As a victim of sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace, the courts are able to offer you relief to help you get back to life as it should. Some of the remedies available through the courts may include, but are not limited to:

Reinstatement of employment and/or benefits
Reimbursement of medical premiums
Reimbursement of medical and other related expenses
Reassignment or termination of the person responsible for the discriminatory behavior
Reviewing and revamping policies
Attorney’s fees
Back pay
Future pay
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Punitive damages

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During the time that I really needed a good counselor and I was approaching different attorneys unfortunately before they heard the problem they were demanding a retainer fee. A friend of mine introduced me to the Derek Smith Law Group and I was very fortunate to be answered by Matt Finkleberg who was very polite and understanding and gave me a lot of confidence without asking for any fees in f... Read Full Testimonial

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You will be in great hands at this firm! Alyssa the managing paralegal is an absolute professional who excels at what she does. You can tell she truly cares about providing the best service possible, and is passionate about helping her clients. With Alyssa at the helm, this firm is a top-notch choice for anyone seeking assistance. Highly recommend!

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Matt Finkelberg is Amazing and Devotional! It was a pleasure to have Matt represent me for my employment case. He was very attentive, supportive, and knowledgable throughout the whole process. Whenever I reached out he responded promptly which I greatly appreciated. Matt fought diligently and hard throughout my case to make sure my case was represented best. Thank you again Matt for everything.... Read Full Testimonial

jessica gonzalez

Olivia is absolutely outstanding! She understands the emotional side of your case while being able to find the legal aspects of holding the employer accountable for breaking the law! Made a really terrible situation a little easier by explaining everything and helping me get everything in order and in the right hands. I would not use anyone else! Call them for any sexual harassment case... You ... Read Full Testimonialwon't be disappointed! 10/10

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What Is the Length of Time a Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case Can Last in New York City?

When you file a claim against your employer for discrimination, it can last anywhere from 4 to 6 months to a year or longer, depending on the details of your case. If your employer is willing to negotiate a fair settlement with you prior to trial, your case may settle in as little as 4 to 6 months. However, if your employer insists on going to trial, your case may take 8 months to a year to prepare for trial. The trial may then take a few days to several weeks or more until a judgment is entered by the court.

A Few Things You Can Do Right Now

As you decide what your next moves should be, there are a few things you should do right away to help your case along.

Contact an experienced sexual orientation discrimination attorney immediately.
If you are still employed, do not quit your job until consulting with your attorney first.
If your company has an HR department, file a complaint for sexual orientation discrimination in writing.
If your company has a sexual orientation discrimination policy, follow it.
Gather evidence. Document everything, including what occurred, where and when it occurred, who was involved, and any witnesses.
Do not waste time. Your time to file a claim is limited. Do not wait until it is too late.

Verdicts & Settlements

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$4.9 Million Settlement

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$1.5 Million Settlement

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$2.78 Million Jury Verdict

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$4.050 Million Jury Verdict

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith Supreme Court of the State of New York, County…

$1.6 Million Jury Verdict

Case Handled by The Derek Smith Law Group Attorney Derek Smith Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate…

Contact Our Experienced New York City Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys for Your Free Consultation

You have the right to live your life however you wish. No employer should ever treat you unfairly or harass you because you are homosexual, heterosexual, or bi-sexual.

If you are the victim of sexual orientation discrimination in New York City, the experienced attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group (one of FindLaw’s top employment discrimination attorneys in New York City) can help.

We have helped our clients win over $165,000,000 and we want to help you. Contact us today at (212) 587-0760 for your free consultation. We do not collect any money until you win your case.

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