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ARTICLE · 19 JUNE 2020

LGBTQ Status Now Protected By Title VII

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Employers must now treat an individual's LGBTQ status no differently than those other criteria protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In a landmark civil rights decision issued on June 15, 2020...

United StatesEmployment and HR
H. Rowan Leathers, III
H. Rowan Leathers, III
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Employers must now treat an individual's LGBTQ status no differently than those other criteria protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In a landmark civil rights decision issued on June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court determined that LGBTQ status is protected within the employment context by Title VII.

In a surprising 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court concluded that it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex. Justice Gorsuch delivered the Court's opinion in which fellow Justices Roberts, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan joined. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion in which Justice Thomas joined, and Justice Kavanaugh filed his own dissenting opinion.

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