Blood bank sued for turning away transgender woman

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — CSL Plasma Inc. is facing a lawsuit from a woman who says the for-profit company discriminated against her because she's transgender.

KPLU-FM reports Jasmine Kaiser's lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court says not only did the company that pays people for plasma turn her away because she's transgender, but workers also told her they'd notify other blood centers that she was on a permanent deferral list.

Attorneys David Ward with Seattle-based women's rights group Legal Voice and Isaac Ruiz with firm Keller Rohrback argue the blood bank is violating a 2006 state law that prohibits discrimination based on a person's gender identity.

CSL Plasma director of marketing Robert Mitchell didn't comment on the specifics of the case, but said in an email that the company complies with all mandated regulations. CSL pays plasma donors as much as $200 a month, KPLU-FM reports.

CSL is facing a similar lawsuit from a transgender person in Minnesota.