A bias lawsuit filed by a transgender man and his wife against a staffing firm and client will go to arbitration, a judge ruled March 5. A motion to compel arbitration cited agreements the man’s wife had signed calling for arbitration.

The lawsuit cited a hostile work environment, retaliation and unlawful termination.

Inez “Sincere” Bonilla and Amanda Bonilla had sued Lulu’s Fashion Lounge LLC and Adecco USA Inc. claiming they were fired by the staffing client shortly after Sincere revealed his transgender status, according to the complaint in the lawsuit. The suit also said Sincere’s transgender status was disregarded when he and Amanda returned to the staffing firm after being asked to leave Lulu’s, and they were not given further assignments.

The Bonillas started working at Lulu’s in June 2022. Sincere told a supervisor that he was a transgender man and asked that his employee ID reflect his preferred name of Sincere. Instead, according to the complaint, the supervisor allegedly said “that (gender identity) is something you need to keep to yourself. This is the most disgusting thing. I will only call you by what is on your ID, lady.” The supervisor also allegedly used an expletive. Another supervisor had the Bonillas escorted from the building.

When the Bonillas returned to Adecco, a recruiter allegedly refused to refer to Sincere using his preferred pronouns, and the Bonillas were unable to get further assignments.

Prior to Lulu’s, the Bonillas had worked at through Adecco at Google Earth.

SIA has reached out to Adecco as well as attorneys for Lulu’s and the Bonillas.

Bonilla et al v. Adecco USA Inc.; US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; 5:23-cv-02741-JFL