Restricting employment help/opportunities based on gender violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

The panel in room 613 was dedicated to resume review and discussions/advice regarding game design, production, art, and writing - all geared towards helping participants get a better shot at being hired. This portion of the event was restricted to women and non-binary people, barring binary-gendered men. This is in violation of federal law.

UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES SEC. 2000e-2. [Section 703]

(a) Employer practices

It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer -

(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or

(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

This behavior also violates Washington state law.

Does the Washington Law Against Discrimination include protections for people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Yes, the Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodation, credit, and insurance. That prohibition became part of the Washington State Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) on June 8, 2006.

For a more dramatic experience, watch this clip and mentally replace "AIDS" with "binary masculinity." In the end, "they broke the law."