American Eagle Forced To Accept Transgendered Staff

styleite.com – Ruthie Friedlander

Givenchy made a bold statement to the transgendered community when designer Riccardo Tisci cast Lea T., formerly Leo T, in the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 ad campaign. Lea may not yet be a professional model, but Tisci found that his former assistant personified the androgyny that defines his collection.

But while we celebrate Tisci’s forward thinking, other battles are still being fought – and in this case won – in the transgendered community. Today, the NY Daily News reports that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has required American Eagle Outfitters to change some of their employee rules, one of which banned cross-dressing.