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Know Your Rights
Source: The Raw Story
Subject: TGNCIQ Justice
Type: Media Coverage

Bill O’Reilly Compares Transgendered People To Ewoks

The controversial conservative talk show host Bill O’Reilly is at it again.

Speaking Tuesday night on The O’Reilly Factor, O’Reilly likened transgendered people to Ewoks. The remark was first noted by the blog Queers United.

O’Reilly was speaking about a policy change made by Pittsburgh-based American Eagle Outfitters, which agreed to revise language in their employee handbook barring men from wearing women’s clothing and vice versa after a lawsuit filed by transgendered staffers.**

"You see them in malls, American Eagle Outfitters," O’Reilly said. "They got a little pamphlet that says to their employees you have to dress appropriately, particularly on the floor. You have got to dress neat. If you are a man, you can’t dress like a woman and visa versa. You can’t scare the customers. If your name is Fred, you can’t look like Dolly Parton. Transgender people come in, challenge. American Eagle folds."

"All I want is a shirt," O’Reilly concluded. "That’s all I want."

American Eagle also agreed to train its employees on transgendered issues as part of a settlement in the suit.

“To avoid further expense and the distraction of a prolonged argument, [we have] agreed to a compromise settlement in this case," a spokesman said. "We wholeheartedly believe that transgender individuals should be treated equally.”

View the clip at rawstory.com.

** Make the Road New York brought this case to the New York State Attorney General, who filed the suit.