The Supreme Court ruled today that gender identity and sexual orientation should be included as protected classes under the employment section of Civil Rights Act. Before now, not only was it legal to fire someone for being LGBTQ in the majority of U.S. states, but LGBTQ people were not protected under any federal nondiscrimination laws.
The 6-3 decision, written by U.S. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, determines anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, thus prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The decision was issued in three consolidated cases. The transgender worker in the Harris case, Aimee Stephens, a funeral home director, passed away last month before she could learn of the decision to come from the Supreme Court. The gay worker in the Zarda case, Donald Zarda, a skydiver, had passed away before his case reached the Supreme Court. The gay worker in the Bostock case, Gerald Bostock, is still living.
Source: Washington Blade
[https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/15/historic-supreme-court-rules-firing-workers-for-being-lgbtq-is-illegal/](https://www.washingtonblade.com/2020/06/15/historic-supreme-court-rules-firing-workers-for-being-lgbtq-is-illegal/)
