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A significant ruling in 2020 set a precedent for protecting the rights of transgender employees.
The Supreme Court has made a significant ruling on transgender rights in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, and it is the only one of its
The ruling from 2020 determined that a significant civil rights law safeguards gay and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace.
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, a Supreme Court justice appointed by President Trump, stated in a 6-3 ruling that it is against the law for an employer to terminate an employee solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., along with the court’s liberal wing at the time, supported this decision.
The collective opinion of the majority and two opposing views took up 168 pages. President Donald J. Trump told reporters that he agreed with the ruling. He mentioned that he had read the decision and acknowledged that while some may be surprised, the ruling stands and they must abide by it. Trump also described the decision as being impactful.
The justices had to interpret Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevents discrimination in the workplace based on race, religion, national origin, and sex. They needed to determine if the protection against discrimination based on sex also extended to gay and transgender employees.
Justice Gorsuch stated that it was indeed the case
The writer stated that when an employer fires someone for being homosexual or transgender, they are essentially firing them for characteristics or actions that they would not have a problem with if the individual 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 was no evidence to suggest that any member of Congress had interpreted the law in that way when it was passed in 1964.
The law that was in place made it illegal to discriminate in the workplace based on someone’s gender. The current case being discussed focuses on the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, which is more broadly written and provides a framework for analysis rather than strict 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 reports on the Supreme Court and writes a column called Sidebar, focusing on legal news. 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, visit his profile.
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