Texas legislature aims to end hair discrimination with new law

Members of the black legislative caucus are introducing a bill targeting hair discrimination.

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act would make it illegal for a person to be denied employment or educational opportunity because of the texture or style of their hair. The Act’s language specifically mentions locs, braids, and twists amongst protected hair styles.

The Act, which has already been adopted by seven different states, comes in response to a rash of hair-based claims of discrimination.

Most recently, a high school student in Houston was banned from walking the stage at his high school graduation simply because he refused to cut his dread locs.

“There are a lot more stories than we’ve ever really heard of. I think it was something that was swept under the rug kind of at everyone’s kitchen table, those conversations. But this is legislation that is necessary,” said Rep. Rhetta Bowers, a sponsor of the bill.

Victims don’t have to suffer in silence

Experiencing workplace discrimination is traumatic; the fear, the embarrassment, the insecurity – it can make doing your job impossible.

Discrimination isn’t always explicit; it is often subtle. You may never get selected for that big promotion or offered a raise. You may feel excluded and treated differently because of your race, gender, age or religion.

Thankfully, victims don’t have to suffer discrimination in silence. Under both Texas state law and Federal Law, victims can file a complaint with the EEOC and seek damages for the harm they’ve suffered.

The firs step is contacting an experienced workplace discrimination lawyer. Thankfully, many lawyers offer a free initial consultation, allowing  the client to have their case evaluated at no out of pocket cost.