Travis Wise | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Wigdor LLP filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Hamilton the Musical, Adventureland LLC and Eliza Tour, LLC (together, “Hamilton”) on behalf of Suni Reid in connection with claims of retaliation and discrimination on the basis of race, gender, gender identity and LGBTQ+ status.
Mx. Reid, who uses they/them and she/her pronouns, is a Black, non-binary performer who joined the Broadway cast of Hamilton in October 2017 and later joined the Chicago and Los Angeles casts. Mx. Reid performed in both the ensemble and in principal roles, including Aaron Burr, George Washington, Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson.
The EEOC Charge alleges that Mx. Reid experienced repeated incidents of discrimination and harassment committed by Hamilton castmates and management in New York and Chicago, including certain actors physically threatening Mx. Reid or intentionally misgendering them. Many of these incidents occurred in the dressing spaces for male performers, as alleged.
As set forth in the EEOC Charge, Mx. Reid was presented with their contract renewal offer in or around May 2021 and shortly thereafter made a legally protected request that performers have access to a gender-neutral dressing room at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, consistent with California law. Weeks later, as alleged, Hamilton suspended the renewal of Mx. Reid’s contract, sidelining them during rehearsals, previews, and finally opening night and beyond.
As alleged, following Mx. Reid’s request, Hamilton eventually provided a gender-neutral dressing room to the Los Angeles cast after another cast member generously offered to give up his private dressing room. However, the Company still would not drop its retaliatory animus toward Mx. Reid and rescinded their contract renewal offer altogether, the EEOC Charge alleges.
Mx. Reid is represented by Wigdor LLP Partner Lawrence M. Pearson and Associate Lindsay M. Goldbrum.
Statement from Lawrence M. Pearson and Lindsay M. Goldbrum:
“Publicly, Hamilton is a beacon of diversity and appears committed to causes seeking social justice and harmony. Behind the curtain, however, the Company’s management will force out a Black, transgender cast member simply because they stood up for themselves and advocated for a more equitable workplace, and therefore called that public image into question. We look forward to upholding Mx. Reid’s rights and hope this is a wake-up call for the theater industry about the systemic inequities that persist even at its greatest heights.”
The Advocate
“Nonbinary Hamilton Cast Member Claims Retaliation Over Dressing Room Dispute”
October 14, 2021
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Attitude Magazine
“TRANS, NON-BINARY HAMILTON ACTOR ALLEGES THEY WERE AXED OVER GENDER-NEUTRAL DRESSING ROOM REQUEST”
October 18, 2021
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BET
“Black Trans ‘Hamilton’ Actor Says They Lost Role After Requesting Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 14, 2021
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Broadway World
“Former HAMILTON Cast Member Files Discrimination Complaint Against the Production”
October 13, 2021
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Business Insider
“A longtime trans ‘Hamilton’ performer says their contract was not renewed after they asked for a gender-neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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Buzzfeed News
“A Black Trans “Hamilton” Cast Member Has Filed A Discrimination Complaint Against The Show”
October 13, 2021
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CBS News
“Former ‘Hamilton’ cast member claims show didn’t renew their contract over gender-neutral dressing room request”
October 13, 2021
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Daily Mail
“Black trans Hamilton actor who performed on Broadway files equality complaint against show over claims producers FIRED them from LA production for requesting gender neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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Deadline
“‘Hamilton’ Trans Actor Claims Retaliation Over Gender-Neutral Dressing Room Request; Producers Dispute Charge”
October 13, 2021
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The Daily Beast
“Black Trans Actor Claims They Were Cut From ‘Hamilton’ for Demanding Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 14, 2021
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Entertainment Weekly
“Transgender actor says they were fired from Hamilton after requesting a gender-neutral dressing room”
October 14, 2021
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Essence
“Black Trans Nonbinary ‘Hamilton’ Actor Claims They Were Fired in Retaliation for Requesting a Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 14, 2021
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Forbes
“‘Hamilton’ Transgender Actor Accuses Management Of Discrimination In Federal Complaint”
October 13, 2021
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Gay Times
“Trans non-binary Hamilton actor says they were fired over gender-neutral dressing room request”
October 18, 2021
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The Hill
“‘Hamilton’ actor claims they were fired after requesting gender-neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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The Hollywood Reporter
“‘Hamilton’ Actor Accuses Production of Discrimination and Retaliation, Producers Deny Allegations”
October 14, 2021
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The Independent
“Trans Hamilton actor claims retaliation after requesting gender neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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Just Jared
“Trans ‘Hamilton’ Performer Alleges Retaliation Over Gender-Neutral Dressing Room Request”
October 13, 2021
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Los Angeles Magazine
“‘Hamilton’ Cast Member Claims They Were Canned After Requesting a Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 13, 2021
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Los Angeles Times
“A ‘Hamilton’ actor asked for a gender-neutral dressing room, and hasn’t performed since”
October 13, 2021
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Metro UK
“Hamilton star alleges they lost role after requesting gender-neutral dressing room”
October 14, 2021
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NBC News
“‘Hamilton’ Black transgender cast member files complaint against the musical”
October 14, 2021
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NBC New York
“‘Ex-‘Hamilton’ Actor Files Complaint Against Show Over Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 14, 2021
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New York Daily News
“Former ‘Hamilton’ trans cast member says contract was not renewed over request for gender-neutral dressing room”
October 14, 2021
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New York Post
“‘Hamilton’ star claims contract dropped after gender-neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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The New York Times
“Former ‘Hamilton’ Cast Member Files Discrimination Complaint Against Show”
October 13, 2021
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OK! Magazine
“‘Hamilton’ Trans Actor Suni Reid Claims Retaliation Over Request For A Gender-Neutral Dressing Room, Insists They Were Threatened & Misgendered”
October 13, 2021
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People Magazine
“Trans Hamilton Actor Claims They Were Fired After Requesting Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 14, 2021
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PinkNews
“Hamilton accused of ‘forcing out’ non-binary actor ‘because they stood up for themselves’”
October 15, 2021
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Playbill
“Former Hamilton Cast Member Suni Reid Files Discrimination and Retaliation Complaint Against the Musical”
October 13, 2021
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The Root
“A Black Trans Actor Claims They Were Dropped From the ‘Hamilton’ Cast After Requesting a Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 17, 2021
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The Student Life
“OPINION: ‘Hamilton’ discrimination allegations raise questions about the real meaning of inclusivity”
October 14, 2021
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TheWrap
“Trans ‘Hamilton’ Actor Accuses LA Production of Retaliating After Requesting Gender-Neutral Dressing Room”
October 13, 2021
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TIME
“Hamilton Actor Suni Reid Accuses the Production of Transgender Bias”
October 13, 2021
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Them.
“Nonbinary Actor Files Discrimination Complaint Against Hamilton”
October 18, 2021
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UNILAD
“Black Transgender Hamilton Star Slams Producers For Alleged Discrimination And Harassment”
October 14, 2021
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USA TODAY
“Trans ‘Hamilton’ actor alleges she lost role after requesting gender-neutral dressing room”
October 13, 2021
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