NEW YORK, NY— A nonbinary doctor has filed a federal lawsuit against New York City’s public hospital system, alleging discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment during a residency program in Manhattan.
Danielle Peterson, a former dermatology resident at New York Medical College’s program at Metropolitan Hospital Center, filed the complaint against NYC Health and Hospitals.
The lawsuit alleges violations of state and city human rights laws, including gender identity discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliation.
Peterson alleges the program’s director instructed them “not to tell anyone” about being nonbinary and not to disclose their pronouns.
According to the complaint, a department chair requested an updated photograph and suggested Peterson had “tricked” the program during the interview process.
The lawsuit also alleges the chair made repeated disparaging remarks about women and about people’s appearances.
The filing describes another incident in which a faculty member questioned a patient’s gender identity in front of Peterson.
“How do you know he’s not one of those perverts who identify as something else just to make everyone else’s life harder?” the faculty member said, according to the complaint, before adding that he was joking.
Peterson alleges that after raising concerns about discrimination, the program pressured them to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and later removed them from clinical duties and academic responsibilities.
The lawsuit seeks damages and a jury trial.
An attorney for Peterson did not respond to a request for comment. Officials with NYC Health and Hospitals also did not respond to an inquiry.