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A significant ruling in 2020 set a precedent in favor of protecting the rights of transgender workers.
The Supreme Court has issued just one significant ruling regarding the rights of transgender individuals, which is the case of Bostock v. Clayton County.
In 2020, a decision was made stating that a significant law regarding civil rights safeguards individuals who are gay and transgender from facing discrimination in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, stated in a 6-3 ruling that it is against the law for an employer to terminate an individual solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and four members of the court’s liberal wing joined Gorsuch in the majority opinion.
The majority opinion and two dissents were discussed over 168 pages. In a statement to the press, President Donald J. Trump mentioned that he agreed with the ruling. He stated that he had read the decision and while it may have surprised some people, he respects and abides by their decision. Trump also noted that he found the ruling to be very impactful.
The justices had to determine the interpretation of a law known as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on factors such as race, religion, national origin, and sex. Specifically, they needed to decide if the protection against discrimination on the basis of sex also extended to gay and transgender individuals in the workforce.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was indeed the case
The writer stated that if an employer dismisses someone for being homosexual or transgender, they are essentially dismissing them for qualities or behaviors that they would not have a problem with in individuals of a different gender.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. disagreed with the argument, stating that it was extremely arrogant. He also mentioned that there was no evidence to suggest that any members of Congress understood the statutory text in that way when the law was passed in 1964.
The law in question banned discrimination in the workplace based on gender. The case being discussed focuses on the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, which is general in nature and is used to create an analytical framework rather than strict rules. Justice Alito suggested in 2020 that the court’s decision in this case could have a significant impact on future constitutional cases.
Adam Liptak is a journalist who reports on the Supreme Court and writes a column called Sidebar, which focuses on legal news. After graduating from Yale Law School, he worked as a lawyer for 14 years before starting his career at The New York Times in 2002. To learn more about Adam Liptak, visit his
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