Yesterday, in a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Title VII has long prohibited discrimination against employees on the basis of sex and the Supreme Court’s decision found that sex discrimination encompasses discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The decision resolves a split among the federal courts, although many states and localities already have laws which protect gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals from employment discrimination.
The ruling in the case, Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, follows from three lower court cases where employers allegedly fired employees based on either sexual orientation or transgender status. The decision is considered a historical win for the LGBTQ+ community.
