Transgender TV Presenter B.Scott Launches $2.5m Discrimination Lawsuit Against BET

Transgender television personality B. Scott has launched a $2.5million suit against the BET network for allegedly hiring him and then firing him for wearing female clothing at its annual awards show.

The 32-year-old blogger, who was born as Brandon Scott Sessoms, claims that he was removed from style correspondent duties at the BET 2013 pre-show last month, because of gender identity discrimination.

According to the court documents, B. Scott wore a black tunic and pants, garments that he says were approved by BET in advance.

He says however that after the first segment, show producers told to him to remove his makeup and heels, pull back his long hair and change into more appropriate men's attire.

But despite obliging the requests, he claims he was still replaced by co-host Adrienne Bailon and was only added to the end of the show after changing his appearance.

"BET and VIACOM made him feel less than his colleagues and made him feel that something was wrong with him as a person," the lawsuit claimed.

In July Scott filed a complaint against BET and parent company Viacom with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing Discrimination, outlining his claims and obtaining a right to sue letter.

He is now seeking $2.5m in damages for the emotional distress he suffered as result of the incident and the harm caused to his public persona.

"I pride myself on being very professional," he said.

"This was my day to come out in one of the biggest days of my career and I was publically humiliated. I'm just hurt by it. I just want people to know that it's ok to be who you are."

BET has yet to comment on the lawsuit but in a statement last month they described Scott's axeing as a "misunderstanding" and regretted any "unintentional offence".