Editor’s Note: On Monday, June 15, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ employees from workplace discrimination.
Justice Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, joining Chief Justice Roberts and the four liberal justices: Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg and Breyer. Justices Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh dissented.
This is a monumental decision that will impact the lives of millions of Americans. The Supreme Court has sent a strong message that discrimination against LGBTQ Americans is not acceptable in the workplace.
This ruling may open up new avenues to fight for LGBTQ rights in all areas of society—like Friday’s HHS ruling from the Trump administration removing nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people when it comes to health care and health insurance.
This piece is excerpted from the Spring 2020 issue of Ms.
