Chili's Faces Federal Lawsuit Over Transgender Manager's Termination
A transgender man working at a Chili's Grill & Bar in suburban Chicago has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the restaurant chain, alleging he was fired because his "personal values and lifestyle" did not align with the company's.
Allegations of Explicit Discrimination
Hudson Webber, who uses they/them pronouns according to court documents, claims in their February 26 complaint that their store manager "explicitly" stated the termination was due to a values mismatch. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges the manager said the decision was made jointly with his regional supervisor.
"During this conversation, [the store manager] explicitly stated that the reason for [Webber's] termination was that [Webber's] 'personal values and lifestyle values' did not align with the restaurant," the legal filing states.
The complaint further alleges the manager told Webber that another employee at a different Chili's location "would be contacted and terminated for the same reasons," suggesting what Webber's attorneys call "a pattern of discriminatory decision-making based on protected characteristics."
Employment Timeline and Performance
Webber was hired as an assistant manager at the Rosemont, Illinois Chili's location on April 17, 2025. According to the complaint, Webber received positive performance reviews during their brief employment. However, the situation changed dramatically on May 1, when management began repeatedly calling Webber off from scheduled shifts.
"On one occasion, [Webber] was told not to report to work because a pipe had ruptured in the restaurant and no employees would be working that day," the complaint states. "[Webber] later learned that this explanation was false and that the restaurant had, in fact, remained open and staffed."
The complaint alleges Webber was "intentionally being excluded from work because management did not want [them] present."
Termination and Aftermath
On May 12, 2025—less than four weeks after starting—Webber was terminated without warning. When Webber asked to speak with someone else about the decision, the store manager reportedly said the decision was "final" and had been made jointly with the regional manager.
The complaint states that "the decision to terminate [Webber] was made only after management became aware of [their] gender identity and expression." Webber had not discussed their gender identity during the hiring process and did not feel it necessary to initiate such discussions about their personal life.
Broader Context of Transgender Workplace Discrimination
Attorney Greg Nevins of Lambda Legal's Employment Fairness Project, while not involved in Webber's case, told The Independent that discrimination against transgender employees remains particularly overt.
"In most of the transgender cases I've worked on, the employer has come right out and said, 'This is why we're not having you continue to work here,'" Nevins said. "People have always been willing to be more discriminatory towards transgender workers."
Andrew Ortiz, a staff attorney at the Transgender Law Center, noted that much anti-trans workplace discrimination goes unreported, making it difficult to gauge the true scope of the problem. Ortiz also pointed to concerns about the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's handling of transgender discrimination cases.
Chili's Corporate Stance and Past Legal Issues
Brinker International, the publicly traded company that owns Chili's, promotes an inclusive culture on its careers website, stating it welcomes "those of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, age and backgrounds."
However, this is not the first time Chili's has faced discrimination allegations from LGBTQ employees:
- In 2019, a gay server at a Phoenix Chili's claimed she was denied a promotion and forced to quit "because she didn't fit her boss's idea of what a woman should look like"
- In 2013, a cook at a Roseville, California Chili's alleged his bosses laughed off a sexual assault by coworkers, telling him, "You're gay, you like it"
A Brinker International spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment on the current lawsuit.
Statistical Context and Consequences
Ash Lazarus Orr, press relations manager at Advocates for Trans Equality, cited the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, which found:
- More than 80% of transgender respondents reported workplace harassment or discrimination
- Over 10% said they had been fired, forced to resign, or laid off due to their gender identity
- The overall jobless rate among the transgender community approaches 20%
"The dismissal of trans employees has consequences beyond the individual," Lazarus Orr said. "It can perpetuate a culture of discrimination and exclusion that discourages talented trans people from pursuing fulfilling careers."
Legal Claims and Remedies Sought
Webber's complaint concludes that the stated reason for termination "had nothing to do with" job performance and was "instead based on discriminatory views about [their] sex and gender identity." The lawsuit claims Webber has suffered not only job and income loss but also emotional distress, humiliation, and degradation.
Webber is seeking:
- Back and front pay with interest
- Compensatory and punitive damages
- Attorneys' fees and court costs
An initial status hearing in the case is scheduled for May 4. The lawsuit represents another legal challenge to workplace discrimination protections for transgender employees amid ongoing national debates about LGBTQ rights and employment equality.
