Suni Reid vs. Hamilton: Reports of Transphobia & Racism

Hamilton—the broadway play that has swept the nation since its debut in January of 2015—has long been hailed for its diversity, but behind the scenes, not everyone can make that same claim.

Suni Reid—a Black, transgender, nonbinary performer—has officially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the broadway musical. More specifically, Adventureland LLC and Eliza Tour LLC, the production and touring company for Hamilton.

As reported by Julia Reinstein of BuzzFeed News, the complaint states that Mx. Reid “was repeatedly misgendered and mocked for their gender presentation during performances of the show. In dressing rooms, male cast members allegedly derided them for wearing dresses, at times calling them ‘auntie’ and ‘Madea.'” Mx. Reid also claimed that “certain actors physically threatened or intentionally and repeatedly misgendered [them],” according to Joseph Longo of them.

This level of harassment lead Mx. Reid to ask for a gender-neutral dressing room. In turn, they were allegedly told that their dressing room would consist of a sheet in an already gendered changing room, which Reid was to change behind.

Allegedly, when Mx. Reid told production that this was not a viable solution, their contract was subsequently suspended.

It should be noted that not all cast members were in line with the discrimination reported by Suni Reid. The performer also claimed in their report through the EEOC that “Rory O’Malley, the actor who played King George in the Los Angeles production, offered to give up his personal dressing room for the purpose of creating a gender-neutral one” as reported by Connor Perrett of Insider, while other cast members “called a meeting with producers to ask about why Reid wasn’t at rehearsals.”

“Publicly, Hamilton is a beacon of diversity and appears committed to causes seeking social justice and harmony,” says Lawrence M. Pearson and Lindsay M. Goldbrum, the lawyers representing Suni Reid. “Behind the curtain, however, the Company’s management will force out a Black, transgender cast member simply because they stood up for themselves and advocated for a more equitable workplace, and therefore called that public image into question.”

A spokesperson for Hamilton has since denied the allegations, claiming, “We have treated Suni with the same respect and consideration as all the company members of Hamilton. Specifically, we have given Suni direct financial support, paid for their health insurance, and paid for their housing. We wish Suni well in their future endeavors.”

While discrimination against LGBTQ employees is no new thing, it’s alarming to hear this news coming from a place that has often been celebrated for its diversity.

Photo by Monica Simoes