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A landmark ruling in 2020 that upheld the rights of transgender workers has set an important legal standard. Written by Adam L
There has been only one significant ruling by the Supreme Court regarding transgender rights, which is the case of Bostock v. Clayton County.
The decision made in 2020 stated that a significant civil rights law safeguards gay and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump, stated in a 6-3 ruling that it is against the law for an employer to terminate an employee based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and four liberal justices also supported this decision.
The combined majority opinion and two dissenting opinions were a total of 168 pages long. President Donald J. Trump stated to the press that he acknowledged and agreed with the ruling. He mentioned that although some people were taken aback, he respected the decision made by the court. Trump also commented that he believed it was a strong and impactful ruling.
The justices were tasked with determining the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law that prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to ascertain if the provision regarding discrimination based on sex also extended to include gay and transgender employees.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was true.
The author stated that when an employer dismisses someone for being homosexual or transgender, they are essentially firing them for characteristics or behaviors that they would not have objected to in a person of a different gender.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. disagreed with the argument, stating that he found it to be extremely arrogant. He also mentioned that there is no evidence to suggest that any member of Congress understood the law in that way when it was passed in 1964.
A law was passed that banned discrimination in the workplace based on gender. The case being debated on Wednesday focuses on the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which sets out a general framework rather than specific rules. Justice Alito noted in 2020 that the court’s decision in this case could have a significant impact on other constitutional cases.
Adam Liptak is a journalist who focuses on reporting about the Supreme Court and legal news in his column called Sidebar. He attended Yale Law School and worked as a lawyer for 14 years before starting his career at The New York Times in 2002. To learn more about Adam Liptak, click here.
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