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 [email protected].