The U.S. Supreme ruled that Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender individuals from being discriminated against in the workplace.

Title VII prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees and job applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex. Federal courts have previously held that the law’s protections only extend to traditional notions of gender.

Employers may need to review their employment policies to ensure that they do not discriminate against individuals due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Employers should also be aware that the Court’s ruling aligns with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s current Title VII enforcement policies and that state laws may specifically prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Refer to the below Compliance Bulletin for details.

Supreme Court Rules Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Violates Title VII