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American Eagle Forced To Accept Transgendered Staff

by Ruthie Friedlander | 11:23 am, May 12th, 2010


Givenchy made a bold statement to the transgendered community when designer Riccardo Tisci cast Lea T., formerly Leo T, in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 ad campaign. Lea may not yet be a professional model, but Tisci found that his former assistant personified the androgyny that defines his collection.

But while we celebrate Tisci’s forward thinking, other battles are still being fought — and in this case won — in the transgendered community. Today, the NY Daily News reports that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has required American Eagle Outfitters to change some of their employee rules, one of which banned cross-dressing.

Though the retailer denied that a clause in their employee handbook which forced its workers to dress in gender specific clothing was discriminatory against the transgendered community, they agreed to settle. In a statement, an American Eagle spokeswoman said:

“To avoid further expense and the distraction of a prolonged argument, [we have] agreed to a compromise settlement in this case, with the understanding that AEO is not admitting to the findings.”

Hm. Your rule book says women can’t dress in men’s clothes and men can’t dress in women’s clothes. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…

Over 2,000 people in New York are employed by American Eagle and were required to sign an altered employee handbook which noted the change. “This shows me that there’s faith and hope. There might be a domino effect, that’s what I’m hoping for,” Joi-elle White, a transgender member of Make the Road New York told The Daily News.

One ad campaign; one clothing store reprimanded. Both are great positive steps in the direction to end the hate, the negative stigma that has consistently been attached the transgendered community. But like other minority groups before them, it’s going to take a lot more work where this comes from.

While many believe the fashion industry is one defined by its exclusion, one of the most wonderful things about it is its acceptance — often times celebration — of the different. Doesn’t American Eagle know that androgynous is in? YSL, Givenchy, the very concept of the boyfriend jean — and I think they actually sell those.

So Richard Tischi and Andrew Cuomo for the win! And shame on you, American Eagle Outfitters, for thinking you have the right to tell people how they can and cannot dress.

[via NYDailyNews]



  • renzoc

    Look, everyone in America has the right to dress however they want. However, when it comes to the work place I believe if you are an employee of THAT company you should abide by the guide lines. The company has its policy and I believe if you choose to be an employee of a particular company then you should, as an employee, abide by them. I don’t believe this case in particular has anything to do with hate. If I came to work dressed in a lime green thong over a pair of plaid pajamas I would be sent home. Now can is that grounds for me to cry HATE? Realistically sales will be affected because this will make the shopper uncomfortable. Or not. Whose to say? What a person does on his or her time is their business. Don’t bring it to the office.

  • renzoc

    Look, everyone in America has the right to dress however they want. However, when it comes to the work place I believe if you are an employee of THAT company you should abide by the guide lines. The company has its policy and I believe if you choose to be an employee of a particular company then you should, as an employee, abide by them. I don’t believe this case in particular has anything to do with hate. If I came to work dressed in a lime green thong over a pair of plaid pajamas I would be sent home. Now is that grounds for me to cry HATE? Realistically sales will be affected because this will make the shopper uncomfortable. Or not. Whose to say? What a person does on his or her time is their business. Don’t bring it to the office.

  • http://www.johnsbrana.com Handmade Jewelry

    I agree with renzoc. Unless the employer belongs to a collective bargaining group, you are an “At Will” employee and should abide by company dress policy. What ever happened to common sense?

  • joie-elle

    hello everybody I am Joi-Elle White and i would just like to say and agree with renzoc. why does it matters what a person wears as long as they can get the job done

    My thing with this is everybody believes transgenders does nothing but escort. well hopefully with this campiaigne people can see we have no choice and if you give us jobs we can get off the corner or eros

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