In 2001, after working at Burlington Coat Factory’s San Francisco store for five years, Steven Wicks-Perez made the brave decision to undergo sex reassignment surgery and begin to transition from male to female. At the time, Ms. Perez, who has since changed her name to “Maya,” believed her employer would be supportive of her decision. “One of my supervisors kept encouraging me to transition,” says Perez, “but then when I talked to senior Burlington management about it, I was told that it was wrong.” Throughout the next seven years, Burlington’s management fostered an environment that was openly hostile to Ms. Perez. Her supervisors subjected her to graphic sexualized conversations; one supervisor presented her with pornography; co-workers grabbed and touched her breasts, buttocks, and genitals; and customers were allowed to physically and verbally assault her. …

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