Not hired due to appearance
Wasn't sure how to title this, but I am an RN working in Washington state. I work in a cath lab where I am required to wear hospital scrubs, a hair net or cap, and a mask. I recently applied to a different lab (still in WA, not union, non profit).
I am very qualified with years of experience in a niche area and a very busy environment, an old coworker who works at the potential new place participated in my interview and spoke highly of me the entire time, and I felt everything went well. My manager and assistant manager spoke highly of me over the phone with my potential new manager, and all my coworkers speak kindly about me. The manager did not call the meeting an interview until just as I arrived when he texted me, "Surprise! Might be a few people with us interviewing 😊". Prior to this he called it, over the phone, "meet the team and see the lab" (I am not dumb and figured it was an interview as the phone call was not much of one).
I was told there were 10 other applicants, but only 2 with prior lab experience. I just found out I was not selected, and when asked how I could improve, he said,
"Yes, fair question. I think you’re very very qualified *my name*. And you would bring an excellent background, knowledge, and skill set.
I do think at little *hospital name* we are very traditional in our decorum, dress code, and professionalism. After having some discussions with my boss and others, I do think we’d have some concerns with the dress code/piercings and they enforce the policy very strictly.
I hope you do not take that personally. You honestly seem like an awesome person!"
Looking through their policies, all I found was that protruding, loose jewelry must be removed due to safety, and surgical areas; which includes my unit; must have piercings covered by a mask (yanking or falling out I assume for loose and protruding, none of mine protrudes or is loose and is all hidden by my mask)
I am obviously quite upset about this and I feel that my appearance is integral to my identity as a queer person. I feel the manager was offput by my appearance and biased against me. I have no legal background but I want to know if I can pursue some kind of discrimination lawsuit.