Supreme Court decides to protect rights of LGBTQ+ employees

On June 15, 2020 the U.S. Supreme court decided that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ+ employees from discrimination in the workplace. In one case,  a gay male was fired from his position as a county child welfare coordinator after his employer learned he was gay.  In another case, a gay male was fired from his position as a skydiving instructor. In a third case, a male funeral director was fired after telling their employer that they were transgender and would be coming to work as a woman.

Justice Neil Gorsuch write the majority opinion stating: "It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating ... based on sex. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact that he is attracted to men, but not the woman who is attracted to men, that is clearly a firing based on sex".

Before the decision, nearly half of all states had no legal protection against discrimination in the workplace for LGBTQ+ employees.

To see the courts opinion, please go here:  www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/19