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A significant ruling from 2020 that supports the rights of transgender employees has set a significant legal precedent. Written by Adam L
Only one significant ruling has been made by the Supreme Court regarding the rights of transgender individuals, which is the case of Bostock v. Clayton County.
The 2020 ruling confirmed that a significant civil rights law safeguards gay and transgender employees from discrimination 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 an employee based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and four liberal justices also supported this ruling.
The combined majority opinion and two dissents were spread out over 168 pages. President Donald J. Trump told reporters that he agreed with the ruling, stating that he had read the decision and accepted it. Trump mentioned that some people were surprised by the ruling, but ultimately they had made their decision and it must be respected. He also described the ruling as a "very powerful decision."
The justices had to interpret Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to determine if this prohibition also included discrimination against gay and transgender employees.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was indeed the case
The writer stated that an employer who dismisses someone for being homosexual or transgender is essentially firing them for characteristics or behaviors that would not be an issue if they were a different gender.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. disagreed with the argument, stating that he found it to be incredibly arrogant. He also pointed out that there is no evidence to suggest that any member of Congress interpreted the law in that way when it was passed in 1964.
The law that was passed prohibited discrimination in the workplace based on gender. However, the case being discussed on Wednesday involves the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which is more broadly written and focuses on creating a framework for analysis rather than strict rules. Justice Alito mentioned in 2020 that the decision made 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 writing about 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. Learn more about Adam Liptak.
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