Transgender Employee Required to Use Restroom of His Biological Gender

The Minnesota Supreme Court upheld an employer's decision to require a biologically male employee to use the men's restroom despite his "transgender" female self-image. The employee was born male but considered herself female. She took female hormones, dressed as a woman, and adopted a female name. When she attempted to use the women's restroom, female employees objected. The company adopted a policy requiring restroom use according to biological gender. The transgender employee sued the company for sexual orientation discrimination, which is prohibited by Minnesota law. The state supreme court ruled in favor of the company, holding that the law does not require an employer to grant access to restrooms based on the gender self-image of an employee.