PHILADELPHIA — A former Wawa employee who is a transgender male claims he faced harassment and discrimination while working at one of its stores in New Jersey.
Amber Weeden, also known as Jack Rossi, filed a complaint Aug. 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Wawa Inc., Jennifer Lowe, individually and in her official capacity as general manager, and Belinda Wilson, individually and in her official capacity as food and beverage manager alleging gender discrimination and violation of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
Weeden, a transgender male, began working for Wawa as a customer service associate on April 4, 2019, at its store on Castor Avenue in Philadelphia, according to his complaint. He alleges that in March of 2020, he was transferred to a Wawa in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, and began working with Wilson.
Weeden claims Wilson would "force" him to perform her duties while she sat in the back of the store and when he complained to Lowe, the general manager, he faced retaliation from Wilson. Specifically, Weeden claims Wilson would call him "she," ask coworkers if he looked like a boy or girl and threw empty candy boxes at him as well as other harassment. He alleges despite his continued complaints to management, nothing was done to stop the discrimination and harassment which caused him to resign on July 18, 2020.
Weeden seeks monetary relief of more than $75,000, interest, trial by jury and all other proper relief. He is represented by Attorneys David Berlin and Mathew Weisberg in Morton and Gary Schafkopf of Schafkopf Law in Bala Cynwyd.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:21-CV-03536-CFK