Anti-gay discrimination on the job is illegal in the US
By Micah Sulit
On Thursday, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that anti-gay discrimination is considered sex discrimination, making it illegal under existing civil rights laws, reported The Washington Post.
In a 3-2 vote, the commission determined that a passage in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans sex discrimination, encompasses discrimination against members of the LGBT community.
“Allegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex,” the ruling said.
For LGBT workers in the US, this means they can no longer be fired for their sexual orientation.
The ruling was music to the ears of gay rights groups who have long decried the lack of legislation prohibiting anti-gay discrimination.
“Discrimination has no place in America, plain and simple,” said Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign, who added that there’s still work to be done because it’s not just in the workplace that LGBTs need protection from discrimination.
“While an important step, it also highlights the need for a comprehensive federal law permanently and clearly banning LGBT discrimination beyond employment to all areas of American life.
“Such a law would send a clear and permanent signal that discrimination against LGBT people will not be tolerated under any circumstances in this country, and we remain fully committed to making that happen.”