In a shocking landmark decision the US Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 vote that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits workplace discrimination applies to cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The ruling comes after the Trump administration has continually rolled back advances in LGBTQ protections including the Department of Health removing discrimination protections for transgender people in healthcare last Friday. The Justice Department had argued that Title VII doesn’t cover discrimination based on sexual orientation & gender identity.
Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International stated, “The Supreme Court stating explicitly that under the Civil Rights Act discrimination based on sex includes discrimination based on sexual orientation & gender identity is a tremendous victory. The decision comes at a time when the Trump administration has been viciously attacking the rights of LGBTIQ people, in particular trans people. It will protect millions of Americans from discrimination in the workplace & sends a powerful message - that political power-play can not erase basic human rights. This judgment will have implications for LGBTIQ people everywhere - governments & movements are inspired by each other & landmark judgments are quoted by courts across the world. OutRight welcomes & celebrates this ruling!” Vanita Gupta, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights concluded, “We know, however, that our fight to protect LGBTQ people must go on. There are still numerous gaps in our nation’s anti-discrimination laws & Congress must act now to pass full federal anti-discrimination protection laws, like the Equality Act, for all people.” So now we can legally get married & not lose our jobs because of whom we love.
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