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A significant ruling in 2020 established a precedent in favor of protecting the rights of transgender workers. This decision has important implications
The Supreme Court has made a significant ruling in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County regarding transgender rights.
The decision made in 2020 stated that a significant civil rights law safeguards homosexual and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, appointed to the court by President Donald J. Trump, stated in a 6-3 ruling that it is against the law for an employer to fire someone solely for being gay or transgender. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the court’s four liberal members also supported this decision.
The total length of the majority opinion and two dissents was 168 pages. President Donald J. Trump stated to the press that he agreed with the ruling. He mentioned having read the decision and acknowledged that some people were taken aback by it, but ultimately accepted and respected the court’s decision. Trump described the ruling as strong and impactful.
The justices were tasked with interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to determine if the provision regarding discrimination based on sex also encompassed discrimination against gay and transgender employees, impacting a large number of workers.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was indeed the case
The writer stated that when an employer terminates an employee for being homosexual or transgender, they are essentially firing them for characteristics or behaviors that would not have been an issue if they were of a different gender.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. disagreed with the argument, stating that it was extremely arrogant and lacked any evidence to support it. He pointed out that there was no indication that any member of Congress had interpreted the statutory text in that way when the law was passed in 1964.
The law that was passed made it illegal to discriminate in the workplace based on gender. The case being discussed on Wednesday, however, focuses on the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, which is more broadly written and is used to create a framework for analysis rather than specific rules. Justice Alito mentioned 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 specializes in reporting on the Supreme Court and legal news through his column, Sidebar. He attended Yale Law School and worked as a lawyer for 14 years before starting at The New York Times in 2002. To learn more about Adam Liptak, visit his profile.
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