Transsexual 'Considered a Man' Agrees Settlement

[UNITED KINGDOM] - A male to female transsexual 'humiliated' by her former employers has agreed an undisclosed out of court sum from them on grounds of sex discrimination, it was revealed today.

Sharon Persky, an audio buying manager, had worked for S Gold and Sons, an audio software wholesaler and distributor for more than 20 years, and in 2000 told her employers that she was undertaking a sex change.

After telling the company she alleges that her employers began a campaign of humiliation. They denied her access to the women"s toilets and engaged lawyers to write letters to her parents asking about her sex life.

She also alleges that they made her queue up in the male line when leaving the company in the evening to be scanned before leaving the premises:

"I am just glad that this case is over," she said today. "Having worked for this firm for more than 20 years, I was very unhappy to find myself bringing this case.

"I am particularly pleased that the company has agreed to work with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) in developing a comprehensive Equal Opportunities Policy so that no other employees find themselves in my position," she said.

Nearly three years after she had informed her employer, despite changing her name by deed poll, amending her details with her bank and other institutions, presenting full-time as a female and taking medical advice, her employer had still "considered her to be a man", she said.

Chair of the EOC, which supported her case, said today that the issues raised during the investigation, as well as the outcome, highlighted the need got true equality in workplaces:

"This case highlights the need for employers to ensure that that they treat all their staff fairly including transsexuals.

If problems do arise, it's important that a company has proper policies which are laid out and implemented so that everyone knows that harassment of any kind will not be tolerated," said Mellor.

The company issued a full apology to Persky stating that it acknowledged that mistakes had she took her decision to undergo gender reassignment:

"The company is committed to supporting Sharon's decision and will be more proactive in the future. The Company will be amending the company's Equal Opportunities policy to follow recommendations from the EOC to help to better support Sharon and any other employee in the future," the apology stated.