Last Thursday, a transgender woman finally settled with the Kansas Highway Patrol after suing them back in June 2022. The woman was formerly employed as a buildings and grounds manager at the Highway Patrol’s Topeka Headquarters. She was allegedly fired after beginning to transition from male to female. She was given a $50,000 settlement to compensate for lost wages, suffering, emotional pain, and “loss of enjoyment of life.”
Four months ago, the state requested to dismiss the lawsuit before a trial. However, U.S. District Judge John Broomes ruled that there were “genuine issues of material fact” to be addressed. Negotiations provided by the state’s attorney general were unanimously approved in a video conference meeting by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and other eight leaders of the Kansas Legislature. Neither the previously listed party nor the women have made comments following the settlement.
Upon investigation, the Highway Patrol claimed the woman, whose last name is listed as Dawes, was fired due to accusations of sexual harassment and a “lack of cooperation.” The patrol cited several instances in which Dawes made “sexual advances” to another employee, to which Dawes acknowledged. The first citation of sexual harassment was a comment Dawes made to a woman, saying “how nice it was to see a female really taking care of herself.” The next month, Dawes emailed her, “Just a note to tell you that I think you look absolutely amazing today!”
Dawes had not been disciplined for those actions prior to being terminated. In addition, Dawes’ lawyer noted how the top patrol leaders held an undocumented meeting a few months prior to firing Dawes to discuss how to handle her. The lack of record was deemed a “serious procedural irregularity” according to her attorney. The patrol confirmed the meeting happened, although they claimed they met to discuss legal advice regarding their “responsibilities in accommodating Dawes” while she socially transitioned at work.
The outcome of this federal anti-discrimination lawsuit upholds the Civil Rights Act of 1964. As of 2020, this law was extended to protect LGBTQ+ employees from employment discrimination. Trans supporting bills and other legal matters protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ folks often meet resistance in red states like Kansas. It is encouraging to see ethics upheld and bias subsided in a Republican-led state.
