A woman contemplating gender-reassignment surgery says she was fired from a Northeastern Pennsylvania company for wearing a prosthetic penis to work.
Pauline Davis filed a federal suit against J&J Snack Foods last week, alleging gender discrimination.
Davis, 45, said she was terminated from her position as a line inspector in the snack-food factory in early 2010, shortly after she told coworkers that she was wearing the device.
The suit alleges that one of her coworkers told a manager, who summarily terminated her employment.
The suit contends that the device was concealed and did not interfere with Davis’ work.
Additionally, the filing argues that a male employee who had undergone a gender transition, including wearing women’s clothing to work and taking hormones, did not face any adverse conditions in the workplace at J&J.
Davis worked in the Moosic location of the company, in Lackawanna County near Scranton, while J&J is headquartered in Pennsauken, N.J.
J&J did not return a call for comment, nor did an attorney for Davis.
Davis is seeking punitive damages, as well as damages for suffering and humiliation and backpay.
Jen Colletta can be reached at jen@epgn.com.