Ross Dress for Less

[DonnaT]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/435122_transgender.html

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Last updated 7:12 p.m. PT
ACLU: Transgender woman, ejected from Lynnwood store, spurs policy change

By VANESSA HO
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
After a transgender woman was kicked out of a Ross Dress for Less store while trying on clothes, a civil-rights group said the clothing chain has taken "positive steps" to strengthen its anti-discrimination policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington said the company has clarified to employees that gender discrimination includes discriminating against someone on the basis of gender identity and expression.

Based in California, Ross Dress for Less did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Last November, "Christy_M" wrote on a cross-dressing forum that she was trying on a "beautiful sweater dress" in the company's Lynnwood store when a manager suddenly pounded on the dressing-room door.

"You need to get out of the dressing room now!" the manager is alleged to have yelled. She ordered her customer to leave the store.

Startled, Christy_M quickly put on her own clothes and lost an earring clasp in the process. She heard the manager tell some onlookers, "There's a situation going on right now, but it is almost over."

She then threw up and cried in the parking lot.

"I felt so embarrassed and disgusted with myself," Christy_M wrote. "I have so much shame wearing on me that I can hardly move."

The ACLU took up the case in December, writing Ross Stores that the incident constituted "unlawful discrimination" under Washington state law.

"Ross was legally required to afford (Christy_M) 'full enjoyment' of its Lynnwood store, which includes the right to enter the store and not be treated as unwelcome, unaccepted, undesired or unsolicited," ACLU attorney Lindsey Soffes wrote.

The group said it got a response from the company last month. It said Ross Stores said it was drafting policy that "expressly identifies" specific forms of discrimination, and has issued a "special instruction" to employees on accommodating customers' gender identities for use of the bathroom and dressing rooms.

Also http://aclu-wa.org/blog/ross-dress-less ... rimination

The Washington Law Against Discrimination forbids discrimination on the basis of “gender expression or identity” in “places of public accommodation,” or places that serve the public, such as stores, restaurants, hotels, and public schools. The law defines “gender expression or identity” as “having or being perceived to have a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth.”

[Susan]

How strange life is. I get positively welcomed in shops when I explain I am shopping for myself. I did go in Ross once and didn't like it much. I am glad they seem to be sorting things out at last.

[DonnaT]

I remember when this came about, and Christy was devastated. Most of the gals have had good experiences at Ross.

It was only one SA, however, that caused the problem.

[Carolynn]

I have shopped at Ross for several years, and never had a problem. They always offered the dressing rooms from the first time I was there, and now I just head to them automatically.

Same for Lane Bryant stores in OKC.

Carolynn

[Davita]

I think I would chalk up this particular problem with the Ross store as an act of ignorance and a poorly trained management staff. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. However, the trial can bring out the actual HR policies to see if it was a local stupid action or a company stupid action.

[Caith]

Hanlon's Razor is an adage which states:

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

[Kyra]

I agree, Caith! Ignorance breeds ignorance.

[Susan]

Pray thank you to all your life's teachers for your lack of ignorance.

Many have gone into my life, first and foremost my parents and I hope I have done the same to my children.

[Azurielle]

I usually get pretty whacky expressions when shopping for frilly clothes in male mode, but I've never met a clerk crazy enough not to sell you something.

Some stores are pretty iffy about letting you use the dressing rooms if they usually cater to a female-centric clientelle like most lingerie stores, but their attitudes usually change if you request a stall instead of sneaking in.