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A significant ruling in 2020 that supports the rights of transgender employees has set an important legal example.
The Supreme Court has made a significant ruling on transgender rights in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County.
The ruling from 2020 stated that a significant civil rights law prohibits discrimination against gay and transgender employees in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, appointed by President Donald J. Trump, stated that it is against the law for an employer to terminate someone based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This ruling was supported by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the court’s liberal wing at the time.
The combined opinions of the majority and two dissenting judges totaled 168 pages. President Donald J. Trump told reporters that he acknowledged the ruling and had read the decision. Despite some people being surprised, he stated that the decision had been made and must be respected. Trump described the ruling as a strong and impactful decision.
The justices were tasked with interpreting a law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to determine if the prohibition against discrimination "because of sex" also extended to gay and transgender employees, affecting millions of workers.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was indeed the case
The writer stated that when an employer dismisses someone for being homosexual or transgender, they are essentially letting them go for characteristics or behaviors that they would not have objected to if the person were of a different gender.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. disagreed with the argument, stating that the claim was extremely arrogant. He also mentioned that there is no evidence to support the idea that any member of Congress understood the statutory text in that way when the law was passed in 1964.
The law banning discrimination in the workplace based on sex was discussed in a case on Wednesday that focused on the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. This clause is broad and sets a framework for analysis rather than specific rules. However, 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 focuses on reporting on the Supreme Court and legal updates 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. For more information on Adam Liptak, visit his bio.
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