Transgender teacher harassed by staff and students in US, says lawsuit

A transgender teacher from Maryland was harassed and discriminated against in three different schools by students, staff and parents, according to a lawsuit.

Jennifer Eller has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Prince George’s Public Schools and Prince George’s County Board of Education for the discrimination she experienced, which included a huge number of incidents over the course of several years across three different schools.

Eller experienced harassment and discrimination on an almost daily basis, according to The Washington Post.

Students accused her of being a paedophile and a pervert, and in one incident, a group of students threatened to rape her and make her “their girlfriend.”

Eller reported that incident – and others – to school authorities, but nothing was done to improve the situation, the lawsuit alleges.

Transgender teacher experienced Unrelenting harassment

In other incidents, Eller was called “a guy in a dress” by two students in a hallway. Once, when she approached students, one said: “I’m not speaking to it.”

When there was an earthquake in the area, some students started to say that it was God’s punishment for the school hiring a “tranny.”

According to the lawsuit, students also asked her about her genitals, and others would run into her room unannounced and shout “he” or “shim” and then run away.

She also experienced transphobic incidents from staff. An administrator referred to her as “sir” or “mister”, even though she started teaching at that school after she transitioned.

Eller also alleges that she was told by an assistant principal in one school not to wear dresses or skirts as it would make people uncomfortable.

The lawsuit said she reported these incidents to the school principal, but no action was taken.