In 1975 Ohio, Joni Christian returned to work at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly plant after going through a successful sex reassignment surgery. Christian was an openly trans woman who had told her supervisors about her surgery in advance, and yet she returned to a hostile work environment. The supervisors started a whisper campaign against Christian, which led to a petition demanding she be barred from using the women’s bathroom. Christian’s representatives at UAW Local 1112 were furious (UAW stands for United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America). They denounced the petition, insisted no action would be taken because of it, even if it gained more signatures, and began educational outreach efforts to make sure workers were more understanding and accepting of Christian. The UAW later helped Christian in a suit against GM for invasion of privacy that was successfully settled out of court. Christian went on to work at GM for another 24 years before retiring with her full pension and benefits.
