News Item

New York Times To Protect Trans Workers From Discrimination

Beth Shapiro
May 26, 2004

(New York City) The New York Times has announced it will add "gender identity or expression" to the nondiscrimination terms of its corporate human resource policy.

The announcement was made in a corporate email to employees this week. It said that the New York Times is "committed to maintaining a fair and professional work environment for all our employees and, to that end, we routinely review our policies and practices. Our policy now makes clear that we provide equal employment opportunity regardless of gender identity or expression, in hiring and all other terms and conditions of
employment."

The change in policy was hailed by LGBT journalists.

"Transgender employees are often most at risk in the workplace, facing harassment, ignorance and instances of discrimination," said Steven Petrow, President of the Board of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association.

"The New York Times once again is a leader in recognizing its responsibility to treat all of its employees fairly and without bias."

The new policy will not only extend to all Times employees, but also to other New York Times corporate properties, including the Boston Globe and the Worcester Telegram.

Last year the Times became the first major newspaper to print same-sex marriage announcements.