LGBTQ Rights at Work Just Got a Big Boost
Federal appeals court issues major ruling on sexual-orientation discrimination
There’s good news for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ)
workers. A federal court just ruled that discrimination based on sexual
orientation can be considered unlawful sex discrimination.
Make no mistake: this is a big-deal ruling over an issue that has been
hotly contested in recent years.
In 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) directed that
sexual orientation should be considered sex discrimination under Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Then, in March of this year, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals undercut the EEOC by ruling that sexual orientation
discrimination is
not protected by Title VII.
But earlier this month the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found differently. It ruled that sexual orientation
discrimination is unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII.
Now, with two federal circuit courts issuing opposing rulings on this
matter, it’s highly probable that this issue will wind up in front
of the U.S. Supreme Court at some point.
Let’s talk about what happened in this case and what it might mean to you.
Was goodbye kiss unprofessional?
Kimberly Hively worked part-time as an adjunct professor at Ivy Tech Community
College. One day before work, she gave her girlfriend a quick kiss in
the car before heading into the building.
Later that day she received a call from a college administrator who admonished
her for “sucking face” in the parking lot. She was reminded
to act in a professional manner.
After that, Hively was unable to gain a foothold at work. Over several
years, she repeatedly applied for full-time positions but was denied.
Eventually even her part-time contract was not renewed.
Hively suspected the issue was not her job performance, but rather her sexual orientation.
She sued, alleging discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The college argued that her case should be thrown out because sexual orientation
isn’t a protected category under Title VII.
However, the court disagreed. It ruled that it’s impossible to discriminate
based on sexual orientation without taking a person’s sex into consideration.
Therefore, the court said, common sense would dictate that sexual orientation
is covered by Title VII.
Now that that issue is settled, Hively may continue with her case against her former employer.
(The case discussed here is Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.)
Contact us now for a consultation
If you believe that your rights have been compromised because of your sexual orientation, it’s a good idea to speak to an attorney.
Call or email us today to discuss your unique situation.