Lawrence v. Office of Personnel Management
Case on behalf of a transgender man discriminated against by his federal employer because it denied health care coverage.
Marc Lawrence, a transgender retiree of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, was denied health coverage for hormone-related care in 2013-2014, including visits to an endocrinologist and for his hormone prescriptions, despite the fact that such care routinely is covered for non-transgender employees and retirees. This care was denied because of a blanket exclusion in Marc’s health plan at the time refusing coverage for all care relating to gender transition.
Lambda Legal filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of Mr. Lawrence arguing that the health plan’s exclusion violates Title VII protections against discrimination based on sex.
- May 2014-Lambda Legal filed a complaint with the EEOC on behalf of Marc Lawrence for discrimination based on sex.
- July 2014-The complaint is assigned to an administrative judge.
- February 2015-The parties file cross-motions for summary judgment.
- August 2015 –The administrative judge issues a tentative ruling in favor of Marc Lawrence.
- September 2015 -Lambda Legal requests a final agency decision.
- June 2016 –The agency issues a decision in its own favor, rejecting Marc Lawrence’s claims.
- June 2016 -Lambda Legal appeals to the EEOC.
- May 2024-The Commission rules in favor of Marc Lawrence, finding that the exclusion used to deny him coverage in 2013 and 2014 is sex discrimination in violation of Title VII