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A significant ruling in 2020 set a precedent by protecting the rights of transgender workers. This decision was considered important in shaping
The Supreme Court has made a significant ruling on transgender rights in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County.
The decision made in 2020 confirmed that a significant civil rights law safeguards gay and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who was 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 based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and the court’s four liberal justices also supported this decision.
The ruling comprised of a majority opinion and two dissents, totaling 168 pages. President Donald J. Trump told reporters that he acknowledged the ruling and had read it. He mentioned that while some were surprised by it, the decision had been made and they would abide by it. Trump also described the ruling as a significant one.
The justices were tasked with interpreting Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to determine if this prohibition against discrimination based on sex also extended to gay and transgender employees.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was the case.
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 had a problem with if the individual belonged to 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 member of Congress understood the text of the law in that way when it was passed in 1964.
The law mentioned in the text prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on gender. The case being discussed focuses on the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which is broad and sets a framework for analysis rather than strict rules. Justice Alito suggested that the court’s decision in this case could have an 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. He graduated from Yale Law School and worked as a lawyer for 14 years before starting his career at The New York Times in 2002. Learn more about Adam Liptak.
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