The United States Supreme court ruled on Monday, 15th June 2020, that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlaws discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin protects LGBTQ+ workers from workplace discrimination.
“Today, we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear. An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids,” Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote. “An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.”
“Title VII makes it ‘unlawful’ . . . for an employer to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual . . . because of such individual’s race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin.”
“Until Monday’s decision, it was legal in more than half of the states to fire workers for being gay, bisexual or transgender. The vastly consequential decision thus extended workplace protections to millions of people across the nation, continuing a series of Supreme Court victories for gay rights even after President Trump transformed the court with his two appointments,” writer, Adam Liptak says.
“This is a simple and profound victory for L.G.B.T. civil rights,” said Suzanne B. Goldberg, a law professor at Columbia, who spoke to the NewYork Times. “Many of us feared that the court was poised to gut sex discrimination protections and allow employers to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, yet it declined the federal government’s invitation to take that damaging path.”
“Before today, in more than half of states, LGBTQ+ people could get married one day and be fired from their job the next day under state law, simply because of who they are or who they love. This landmark 6–3 ruling affirms that LGBTQ+ Americans are entitled to equal rights under the law,” Presidential aspirant, Joe Biden said in a statement issued on Monday.
For others, there is still a lot more work to be done as regards equality for LGBT people in the workplace.
“The Supreme Court has made its statement. Our bedrock civil rights protections do apply to LGBTQ workers. This is a momentous day for the community. But we need to not over-celebrate:
“The fight is far from over. Just three days ago, the Trump Administration rolled back basic healthcare protections for the community. Dozens of Black and Brown Transgender people have been murdered over the last several months. Statehouse leaders diverted attention from a pandemic to attack transgender kids’ basic rights. Deena Fidas, Managing Director and Chief Program and Partnerships Officer at Out & Equal said in a statement made available to The Rustin Times.
“But the business community has fought back at nearly every turn — blunting anti-LGBTQ bills before they see the light of day, signing amicus briefs in support of LGBTQ civil rights, and more — and the impact of their allyship will continue to be felt within their four walls and in the public square.” She added.
Monday, June 15, 2020, will continue to be a day of joy, remembrance, and celebration for the LGBTQ+ community in the United States and all over the world.
