A former catering worker who identifies as neither female or male is suing Bon Appetit Management Co. for $518,000, claiming co-workers referred to the employee as a female though repeatedly being asked to stop.

Valeria Jones alleges in a lawsuit that co-workers repeatedly called Jones “miss,” “lady” and “little lady” despite explanations that Jones “was not a female or a male and that the term was unwelcome.”

Workers also directly said Jones looked like a woman and made female celebrity comparisons, the suit states.

The lawsuit, filed this week in Multnomah County Circuit Court, says Jones preferred to be addressed by a general neutral pronoun. The suit doesn’t identify the term.

The term “they” -- rather than “he” or “she” -- is sometimes used to refer to a gender-neutral individual in the LGBTQ communities.

The suit was filed by Portland attorney Donel Courtney, who declined Friday to share more details about the case.

Bon Appetit declined to comment on specifics of the case because of the pending litigation and because it involves a personnel matter, but vice president Maisie Ganzler said, “I can say we are an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity of all kinds.”

The company lists its mission as providing "café and catering services to corporations, colleges and universities, and specialty venues" through more than 500 locations in 32 states.

According to the suit:

Jones began working in March 2013. When Jones filled out an application, Jones left blank a question asking about male or female identification. Management didn’t question the omission.

During the next few months, Jones spoke with managers about the problem -- asking them to address employees as a group and present to employees information about gender identity. The managers didn’t follow through.

“Plaintiff cried regularly at work and at home during this time,” the suit states.

Jones resigned.

The suit alleges Jones made a complaint to human resources, but the department never contacted Jones.

The suit seeks $18,682 in lost wages and benefits, and $500,000 for humiliation and suffering.

-- Aimee Green