Chinese transgender man wins landmark wrongful dismissal case
But court stops short of ordering company to apologise or saying dismissal linked to man’s gender identity after awarding him 2,000 yuan
A transgender man in China has won a landmark legal challenge against wrongful dismissal in what has been described as the country’s first such discrimination case.
The man, who would only be identified as Chen, was illegally fired after only a week on the job at a medical clinic in south-west China, a court ruled.
I have always said this case was never about the money. This lawsuit was about three things: dignity, raising awareness of transgender and other sexual minorities, and pushing for anti-discrimination legislation
But the judge stopped short of forcing the company to apologise and did not say Chen’s dismissal was related to his gender identity. He was also awarded 2,000 yuan (HK$230), a month’s wages, in the December 30 ruling.
“I have always said this case was never about the money,” Chen told The Guardian. “This lawsuit was about three things: dignity, raising awareness of transgender and other sexual minorities, and pushing for anti-discrimination legislation.”
Although satisfied with the ruling, Chen vowed to continue legal challenges to force an apology.
He said he hoped the case would spark renewed efforts towards enacting anti-discrimination legislation to protect more people like him.