(U.S.) – The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that existing federal law does, in fact, forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and transgender status.
Based on decisions by the country’s highest court in two separate courses, the overall ruling determined Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which makes it illegal for employers to discriminate based on a person’s sex, among other factors, also offers the same protections in terms of a person’s sexual orientation and transgender status.
21 states across the country have their own laws prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity while seven more provide those protections to public employees only. While those laws remain in place, the most recent federal ruling indicates now federal law provides similar protection for LGBT employees throughout the rest of the country.
