Texas declares war on free expression

[Bob78164]

It is now the official policy of the Texas Department of Agriculture that people who wear clothing deemed gender non-conforming are subject to discipline, up to and including being fired. In other words, if I worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture and chose to show up for work in a dress or a skirt, I could be fired. This would be the case even though the clothing I choose to wear has nothing to do with my execution of my job responsibilities. --Bob

[BackInTex]

I don't have an issue with employers having a dress code. I haven't read this particular rule but the workplace is not a place of personal expression. When you're on the clock, you're working for your employer and any expression is an expression representing them and they, because they are the ones paying, get to drive the expression. If you don't agree, it IS a free country. Off the clock, whatever, as long as you don't tie your expression to your employer. There are lines to be drawn for sure. Mine are broad and obvious, yours are probably non-existent, except where it might offend you or someone in what you considered a protected class. Offending me? Screw me, right?

[silverscreenselect]

I don't have an issue with employers having a dress code.

First, the Department of Agriculture is a state agency, and is subject to stricter scrutiny than private employers are. And the issue isn't a dress code, per se. Nobody is looking to pull a Corporal Klinger at the office. It's aimed at trans individuals who look to dress according to their own gender identity, not the set of chromosomes they were born with.

[Weyoun]

This would seem to run into constitutional and civil rights issues, since it is a state agency, and it seems like they are going out of their way to target a particular group of people.

The worst part is, how many people could this actually involve. Maybe three?

So sure make a target of them and cost your agency an expensive lawsuit.

What a bunch of goobers