An upscale Tarrytown restaurant could soon face a $3 million lawsuit over its firing of a transgendered cook.

A judge recently ruled that human rights laws allow Eric Buffong, who started his life as Erica, to sue Equus Restaurant at Castle on Hudson. Buffong says he was a rising cook until employees found out he was transgendered. He says his hours were cut and then he was fired last summer. Buffong, who now works as a corporate chef in White Plains, defends his lifestyle. He says he started to dress differently in high school, but knew he was different from the time he was seven.

Equus did not return calls from News 12 Westchester and managers refused to comment on the case.