Release By Law Offices of Waukeen McCoy: TV And Internet Personality B. SCOTT Files Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Against BET Networks And Viacom For Gender Identity Discrimination, At BET Awards

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Plaintiff Brandon Sessoms, aka B. SCOTT ("B. SCOTT") is an openly gay TV and Internet Personality, Advice Columnist and Entrepreneur.  On Tuesday, August 6, 2013, B. Scott filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court case no. BC517318, seeking to hold Black Entertainment Television ("BET") and its parent company Viacom responsible for gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation discrimination stemming from the disparate treatment he received while working as a Style Stage Correspondent for the BET Awards Pre-Show held June 30, 2013.

In a statement released via his official website (lovebscott.com), B. Scott says:

"While I want nothing more than to put this incident behind me and move on with my life, I still wholeheartedly believe that I'm entitled to a true public apology. BET's non-apology statement added more insult to injury. What happened to me was not a 'miscommunication' nor was it 'unintentional'. It was wrong. I have been vehemently trying to come to a resolution with BET and Viacom behind the scenes. After a few weeks of back and forth dialogue with no foreseeable resolution, I have filed a lawsuit against BET and its parent company Viacom for discrimination on the basis of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation."

B. Scott's representation, Civil Rights attorney Waukeen McCoy, who also successfully argued the gay marriage cases before the California Supreme Court in 2008, states:

"Any form of discrimination is wrong and has no place in the work environment, in Corporate America or in Hollywood."

During the 2013 BET Awards Pre-Show, B. Scott was pulled from his hosting duties after being told his transgendered appearance was 'unacceptable'. B. Scott addressed the situation in an open letter on his website:

"It's not just about the fact that BET forced me to pull my hair back, asked me to take off my makeup, made me change my clothes and prevented me from wearing a heel. It's more so that from the mentality and environment created by BET made me feel less than and that something was wrong with who I am as a person."

Despite ongoing efforts to resolve the issue in a discreet manner, B. Scott is suing for a public apology and damages in excess of $2.5 million.

For more information and to read the rest of B. Scott's open letter detailing the discrimination that occurred during the 2013 BET Awards Pre-Show, visit lovebscott.com.

SOURCE Law Offices of Waukeen Q. McCoy

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