U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su will induct sweatshop workers and LGBTQ+ trailblazers into the Department of Labor's Hall of Honor. The honorees include Thai garment workers, as well as Gerald Bostock, Donald Zarda and Aimee Stephens, according to an Aug. 31 news release.
“The El Monte Thai garment workers serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of the Department of Labor’s mission to protect rights of all workers,” Su said in the release. “The importance of their contributions to labor and changes in federal labor and immigration laws cannot be understated. We are proud to recognize and welcome them to the department’s Hall of Honor.”
The induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 18, with Su presiding over the honoring of the El Monte Thai Garment Workers as the first inductees of 2023. These workers, initially discovered in a California garment sweatshop in 1995, embarked on a journey to combat human trafficking and forced labor, ultimately leading to substantial changes in labor and immigration laws, offering them a pathway to citizenship, the release reported.
Additionally, the DOL recognized the efforts of Zarda, Bostock and Stephens for their collective commitment to advancing workplace protections for the LGBTQ+ community, according to the release.
Zarda reportedly faced workplace discrimination based on his sexual orientation as a skydiving instructor, Stephens confronted wrongful termination for undergoing gender affirmation surgery. Bostock fought against employment discrimination after joining a gay recreational softball league, the release said.
Their relentless pursuit of justice culminated in a landmark Supreme Court decision in June 2020, affirming Title VII of the Civil Rights Act safeguards against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the release reported. Induction ceremonies for Bostock, Stephens and Zarda will be announced in the future, providing an opportunity to celebrate their remarkable contributions to workplace equity.
The Department of Labor's Hall of Honor, established in 1988, is housed within the Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C. This recognition serves as a testament to the enduring impact of these individuals' efforts in reshaping labor and civil rights in the United States, the release reported.
