Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

SCOTUS ruling could completely alter lives of LGBTQ Americans

USA Today: “Four years ago, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the United States, and many Americans believed the fight for LGBTQ equality was finally won. But that ruling did not address all the ways LGBTQ people experience discrimination in their everyday lives. Same-sex partners can now legally marry, but in a majority of states you can still be fired for being gay.  On [October 8, 2019] the Supreme Court heard three cases on whether it is legal to fire workers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Experts say they set the stage for a landmark civil rights ruling that will serve as the true test of where the nation stands on LGBTQ rights…”

CNN – Historic Supreme Court arguments Tuesday in LGBTQ workplace rights dispute – The Supreme Court grappled at times on Tuesday with historic cases that could impact millions of LGBTQ Americans. At the end of two hours of lively arguments, it seemed clear that the four liberals on the bench believed that federal employment law that bars discrimination based on sex includes claims of sexual orientation and gender identity. Two separate cases were argued on Tuesday. One concerning whether the law encompasses claims of sexual orientation brought by Gerald Bostock, and the estate of Donald Zarda. The other concerned a transgender woman, Aimee Stephens, marking the first time the court heard arguments regarding the civil rights of a transgender individual. How the justices rule could have critical implications for the LGBTQ community made up of approximately 1 million workers who identify as transgender and 7.1 million lesbian, gay and bisexual workers, according to UCLA’s Williams Institute. While the four liberals may side with the LGBTQ petitioners, it is unclear if one of the five conservative justices will join them. All eyes were on conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch who often focuses on the plain text of a law when analyzing it…”

Sorry, comments are closed for this post.