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Video Games: Valve facing $3.1M Discrimination Lawsuit
Banned
Member Since: 5/15/2010
Posts: 15,858
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Valve facing $3.1M Discrimination Lawsuit
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Big-time video game company Valve is being sued for more than $3 million by a former employee who claims her supervisor referred to her as "it" after she had sex reassignment surgery. Identified by her initials in the lawsuit, she claims Valve was a hostile work environment as a result.
Polygon obtained the lawsuit, which was filed in April 2016. In its May 20 counter, Valve denied any wrongdoing and asked the court to dismiss the suit.
As Polygon reports, the plaintiff, a former translator for Valve, informed Valve in 2012 that she needed to relocate to Los Angeles, where her doctors were, so she could work during her recovery period. Valve agreed, but, as a condition of the request, mandated that she have her job status reclassified as an independent contractor.
As for why she was reportedly let go, earlier this year, she wrote to Valve's human resources department to voice her concerns about the company's reported use of unpaid translators. Some of these translators were "very young minors," according to the suit.
Just days after filing the official complaint, she found herself out of a job, the lawsuit explains. According to the complaint, Valve said her job was being moved back to the company's headquarters in Washington, but even after she agreed to move, Valve "refused," according to the lawsuit.
"The real reason for termination was that plaintiff was complaining about the hostile work environment and illegal business practices ...moreover, plaintiff was terminated due to her transgender status," reads a line from the lawsuit.
"While defendants accommodated her at first, her direct supervisor referred to her in derogatory fashion," the lawsuit goes on. "He referred to plaintiff as 'it,' which is highly offensive to a transgender person."
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http://www.gamespot.com/articles/val.../1100-6440133/
Comments from Gamespot are awful so you might wanna avoid it, yall.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 15,736
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Not everyone lives in the social rights bubble. And whilst yes, it would be unpleasant to be called that, you have to realize that "it" is the word that comes out when you're confused and don't know what else to say. It is a show of ignorance but not transphobia. And it's going to continue happening because it takes time for people to learn and adjust. What's the bet she didn't even take time to discuss it with her supervisor? The rest of the lawsuit and "real reason" is fair game.
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 40,566
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Disgusting. And why are comments always a mess? TMZ, Daily Mail, YouTube & Faceboook 
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Banned
Member Since: 5/15/2010
Posts: 15,858
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Quote:
Originally posted by Syňth
Not everyone lives in the social rights bubble. And whilst yes, it would be unpleasant to be called that, you have to realize that "it" is the word that comes out when you're confused and don't know what else to say. It is a show of ignorance but not transphobia. And it's going to continue happening because it takes time for people to learn and adjust. What's the bet she didn't even take time to discuss it with her supervisor? The rest of the lawsuit and "real reason" is fair game.
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If you're confused call them by name. Thank you for your input.
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Just days after filing the official complaint, she found herself out of a job, the lawsuit explains.
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For your other question. TiffanyGuidingYouToGo.gif
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 40,566
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Quote:
Originally posted by Syňth
Not everyone lives in the social rights bubble. And whilst yes, it would be unpleasant to be called that, you have to realize that "it" is the word that comes out when you're confused and don't know what else to say. It is a show of ignorance but not transphobia. And it's going to continue happening because it takes time for people to learn and adjust. What's the bet she didn't even take time to discuss it with her supervisor? The rest of the lawsuit and "real reason" is fair game.
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You can't justify addressing or referencing another human being as 'it'
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Member Since: 6/15/2012
Posts: 4,586
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mestupidface - 8 hours ago
Should of said "asking for 3 million or to make half-life 3" that way she would of gotten the money.
this made my day 
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 15,736
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Quote:
Originally posted by B'Day
You can't justify addressing or referencing another human being as 'it'
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It's stupid and offensive. It does not justify a 3m lawsuit though. Do you think he knew he was causing harm? I doubt it. I just feel that it's not something for thinkpieces and SJWs and lawsuits, but a relatively minor interaction that could have been sorted out between them.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 6,930
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Quote:
Originally posted by Syňth
It's stupid and offensive. It does not justify a 3m lawsuit though. Do you think he knew he was causing harm? I doubt it. I just feel that it's not something for thinkpieces and SJWs and lawsuits, but a relatively minor interaction that could have been sorted out between them.
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Yes he knew he was causing harm, if he didn't he would have called her by her first name, or would have straight up asked how to call her.
You're a Iggy stan tho, so that may just speak for itself.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 6,625
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Quote:
Originally posted by Qudron
Why are Americans so obsessed with suing everything that bothers them? I'd gladly get $3 million for being called 'it'
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This is a lawsuit over the hostile work environment created after a transgender woman transitioned, where she was de-humanized, called "it" when guess what, it's 2016 and calling a trans person "it" when they've obviously been open and vocal about their gender identity through publicly transitioning is 100% disrespectful. Not only this, when she complained, she was fired, showing that said supervisor was more important to Valve than their transgender employees receiving basic respect. It shows a huge total lack of empathy and understanding of transgender issues if you think this boils down to an employee being mad they're called "it". It shows a total disregard for the feelings of those who, in the hostile world we live in today, have the courage to transition in the workplace, after what was likely a life of being closeted. And guess what, she still got fired for it.
I bet if this had been some supervisor calling a gay worker who came out of the closet things like "***" and other derogatory slurs for gay men that a lot more people, especially on this forum, would have a much bigger issue with this, but we still live in a world where people frankly don't give a **** about transgender women at all, and that's the disgusting truth about it.
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Member Since: 3/1/2012
Posts: 5,765
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Member Since: 1/3/2010
Posts: 21,098
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Quote:
Originally posted by BYoncé
This is a lawsuit over the hostile work environment created after a transgender woman transitioned, where she was de-humanized, called "it" when guess what, it's 2016 and calling a trans person "it" when they've obviously been open and vocal about their gender identity through publicly transitioning is 100% disrespectful. Not only this, when she complained, she was fired, showing that said supervisor was more important to Valve than their transgender employees receiving basic respect. It shows a huge total lack of empathy and understanding of transgender issues if you think this boils down to an employee being mad they're called "it". It shows a total disregard for the feelings of those who, in the hostile world we live in today, have the courage to transition in the workplace, after what was likely a life of being closeted. And guess what, she still got fired for it.
I bet if this had been some supervisor calling a gay worker who came out of the closet things like "***" and other derogatory slurs for gay men that a lot more people, especially on this forum, would have a much bigger issue with this, but we still live in a world where people frankly don't give a **** about transgender women at all, and that's the disgusting truth about it.
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Your whole post really.
She better snatch every last penny.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 35,912
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Quote:
Originally posted by antoine_
mestupidface - 8 hours ago
Should of said "asking for 3 million or to make half-life 3" that way she would of gotten the money.
this made my day |
Omg LMAO.
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Member Since: 3/2/2014
Posts: 5,993
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a mess. i get my paycheck from this company too. lemme just log off
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 14,820
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Wait, so they called someone "it" and have to pay 3 million?
That's absolutely horrific. What a messed up world.
If you call someone "it" you should have to apologise.
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Originally posted by BYoncé
I bet if this had been some supervisor calling a gay worker who came out of the closet things like "***" and other derogatory slurs for gay men that a lot more people, especially on this forum, would have a much bigger issue with this, but we still live in a world where people frankly don't give a **** about transgender women at all, and that's the disgusting truth about it.
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You can't read our minds. I care about transgender women and I think 99% of people do.
I put up with FAR, FAR, FAR worse bullying when I was a kid. I got called much worse things than "it". I got physically harmed. As a 5-year old I didn't ask for 3 million dollars. I toughened up and became a stronger person from it.
This is clearly disproportionate. They should have to apologize and try not to do it again, not pay $3 million.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 58,053
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a ridiculous price
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Originally posted by careerfatality
a mess. i get my paycheck from this company too. lemme just log off
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ignoring the transphobia in this thread because where the hell is left 4 dead 3?
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 58,053
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tsuko
Wait, so they called someone "it" and have to pay 3 million?
That's absolutely horrific. What a messed up world.
If you call someone "it" you should have to apologise.
You can't read our minds. I care about transgender women and I think 99% of people do.
I put up with FAR, FAR, FAR worse bullying when I was a kid. I got called much worse things than "it". I got physically harmed. As a 5-year old I didn't ask for 3 million dollars. I toughened up and became a stronger person from it.
This is clearly disproportionate. They should have to apologize and try not to do it again, not pay $3 million.
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Poor you for not taking the opportunity. This isn't some 4 year old calling a 5 year old a ******. These are adults and you can't go around treating people any type of way.
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Banned
Member Since: 5/15/2010
Posts: 15,858
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Quote:
Originally posted by Tsuko
Wait, so they called someone "it" and have to pay 3 million?
That's absolutely horrific. What a messed up world.
If you call someone "it" you should have to apologise.
You can't read our minds. I care about transgender women and I think 99% of people do.
I put up with FAR, FAR, FAR worse bullying when I was a kid. I got called much worse things than "it". I got physically harmed. As a 5-year old I didn't ask for 3 million dollars. I toughened up and became a stronger person from it.
This is clearly disproportionate. They should have to apologize and try not to do it again, not pay $3 million.
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How can they do it again when they already fired the plaintiff? 
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Member Since: 3/2/2014
Posts: 5,993
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Quote:
Originally posted by DevonDreams
a ridiculous price
ignoring the transphobia in this thread because where the hell is left 4 dead 3?
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ur supposed to be asking about the other three
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 15,736
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Quote:
Originally posted by Caprice
Yes he knew he was causing harm, if he didn't he would have called her by her first name, or would have straight up asked how to call her.
You're a Iggy stan tho, so that may just speak for itself.
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oh yeah cos I'm sure you've never offended anyone by accident. Sorry honey but people don't always make the right decision. Happens every hour of every day.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 6,625
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Quote:
Originally posted by Syňth
oh yeah cos I'm sure you've never offended anyone by accident. Sorry honey but people don't always make the right decision. Happens every hour of every day.
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Calling a transgender person "it" is not an accident, especially when they're one of your workers and openly transition. You don't call someone an "it" without malicious intent behind your statement, especially not in 2016 when transgender people are very visible, this isn't the 60s where people rarely transition or it's the scandal of the century to be trans. If it was an accident, the supervisor would've been corrected and everyone would've been on their way, however it obviously was a recurring issue and when the employee filed a complain, they were fired. That's blatant transphobia and discrimination. Siding with someone who calls a trans woman "it" is transphobia, defending a company and a person who call a trans woman "it" is transphobia, and you clearly aren't making the right decision here.
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