19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|Breaking News, Weather, ExclusivesWorker wins sexual orientation discrimination case against Cuyahoga County

Worker wins sexual orientation discrimination case against Cuyahoga County

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

A new case could affect millions of gay workers across the country, shedding light on huge holes in U.S. labor laws for the gay and lesbian population.

Shari Hutchinson says she finally feels like putting up a fight for herself and others in lesbian, gay and transgender communities has paid off.

This, after a federal judge ruled she should not be discriminated against by her public employer for her sexual orientation.

The case was opened in Cuyahoga County. Hutchinson had been working for the Child Support Enforcement Agency since 2003, with a great deal of experience. Hutchinson tells 19 Action News she couldn't understand why she kept getting rejected for a promotion until one day it hit her, and then she filed a lawsuit against the county.

Everyone knows it's against the law to fire someone for things like race, gender or religion. Currently, there's no protection for sexual orientation, making Hutchinson's case precedent setting.

The case now has national human rights activists talking, but not those that work for the county.

A judge has recently ruled that Hutchinson had a case and reached a settlement with Cuyahoga County.

Hutchinson says she's not done working yet and her next gig will be in civil rights advocacy.

 

Copyright 2011 WOIO. All rights reserved.

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