ICYMI: Minnesota Transgender Man SUES Walmart—Claims DISTURBING Job Harassment!
A transgender man from Minnesota alleges relentless harassment by Walmart coworkers in shocking lawsuit. 🌐 #News #StPaulMN #Minnesota #LawAndCourts
ST. PAUL, MN – A legal battle has erupted in Minnesota as a transgender man takes on retail giant Walmart, asserting he faced persistent harassment from coworkers while employed at the chain’s West St. Paul location. The case, centered on events from late 2020, paints a troubling picture of a teenage worker enduring hostile treatment tied to his gender identity.
Allegations of Workplace Torment
Jackson Villarreal, the plaintiff, launched his lawsuit claiming that during his time as a 16-year-old employee, supervisors and team members targeted him repeatedly.
The legal filing details disturbing incidents, including one where a supervisor allegedly offered a coworker $100 to yank down Villarreal’s pants. In another instance, a team leader reportedly made crude remarks about Villarreal’s chest, suggesting someone should tamper with his clothing.
The harassment didn’t stop there.
Villarreal, who began his job using his birth name and gender assigned at birth, asked supervisors to use his preferred name instead. The lawsuit states they ignored his requests, continuing to address him incorrectly, which intensified the hostile environment.
State Investigation Steps In
By 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights launched a probe into Villarreal’s claims.
Their 2023 report determined there was solid evidence he faced harassment due to his gender identity. The agency noted that one supervisor, tied to the pants-related incident, wasn’t terminated until months after the event.
Following that threat, Villarreal left his job and never returned.
The state’s findings went further, concluding Villarreal was effectively forced out—legally termed “constructively discharged”—because the workplace became unbearable due to discriminatory behavior.
Even after Walmart challenged the report, the Department of Human Rights upheld its stance, labeling the harassment as severe and ongoing.
Broader Context of the Case
This lawsuit lands amid shifting federal policies.
In January 2025, an executive order from the Trump administration redefined sex as strictly male or female, determined at birth. This move aims to reshape how transgender individuals access federal programs and documentation, like passports, which currently allow gender identity updates.
Minnesota’s investigation, however, focused solely on state law and Villarreal’s experience, independent of these federal changes.
Legal Teams Gear Up
Villarreal’s lawyers, while keeping details under wraps, expressed confidence in the case and their intent to prove his claims in court. Walmart, in response, denied any tolerance for discrimination and vowed to fight the litigation.
The outcome of this Minnesota case could ripple through workplace policies as it unfolds, drawing attention to how gender identity disputes play out in real-world settings. For now, both sides are digging in for a courtroom showdown.
RELATED TOPICS: Arkansas | Crime | Lifestyle | Minnesota
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