July, 31, 2018 (FRESNO, CA) – A former Starbucks supervisor who dedicated more than eight-years to the company and was being groomed for a management position at multiple area locations, has filed a lawsuit claiming harassment and discrimination after disclosing that she had started the process to transition from male to female. The complaint, filed in Fresno County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages.

According to the 25-page complaint, Maddie Wade, had her hours cut and was taken out of consideration for promotion after revealing she suffered from gender dysphoria and had started hormone therapy and facial feminization surgery.  Ms. Wade alleges that her manager at the 6701 N. Millburn Ave. location advised her that because of his strong religious views he could never accept the concept of a transgender person.

“Given Starbucks socially-progressive and forward-thinking public positions on gender equality, it’s troubling to see a situation that seems to starkly contrast with the broader messages of the company,” said Arnold Peter, attorney for Ms. Wade.  “Clearly, in this case the company failed to protect a dedicated and hardworking employee when she was at her most vulnerable.”

The complaint includes various screenshots from some of the manager’s social media posts which contained disturbing messages about his positions on gender equality such as:

• An image of John Wayne emblazoned with the statement: CUTTING OFF YOUR PECKER DOES NOT MAKE YOU A WOMAN…IT JUST MAKES YOU A GUY WHO CUT OFF HIS DAMN PECKER
• Citing as “Leftist Logic” that “Men Can Be Women”
• Deriding Bruce Jenner as someone who just wanted to “cross dress without being judged”
• “Gender is not now, nor has it ever been a preference… Take your ‘purple penguins’ and shove it up your ass!”

“I loved my friends and colleagues at Starbucks and expected to have a long-term career with the company,” stated Ms. Wade.  “It was humiliating to come to work every day and be treated with no dignity or respect. I never would have expected this kind of behavior from a fellow employee who failed to represent the culture and ethics that have come to embody Starbucks as a global brand.”