Transgender
Discrimination Lawsuit Settled

A Houston radiology company has settled a lawsuit filed by Izza Lopez, a transgender woman, who said the company rescinded a job offer when it discovered Lopez had been born male, the Houston Chronicle reported April 24.

Born Raul Lopez Jr., the plaintiff claimed that River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostic wrongfully pulled its 2005 offer to employ her as an appointment scheduler. River Oaks said the offer was withdrawn because Lopez presented herself as a woman, which it claims was untrue because she was born male. U.S. district judge Nancy Atlas entered an order Tuesday dismissing the lawsuit unless the parties came back because the settlement could not be finalized, according to the Chronicle. Earlier Atlas had refused the company's request to dismiss the case entirely.

Atlas ruled that "Lopez has stated a legally viable claim of discrimination as a male who failed to conform with traditional male stereotypes."

Jason Howe, spokesman for Lambda Legal, which represented Lopez, told the Chronicle, "I can tell you, the case has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties." (The Advocate)