ABOVE: The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 15 decision formally extends Title VII protections to LGBTQ+ individuals, a move lauded by various Central Florida government officials and LGBTQ+ organizations. (Photo courtesy One Orlando Alliance’s Facebook)
ORLANDO | Politicians and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups across Central Florida have been praising the landmark Supreme Court decision that bars workplace discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court – in a 6-3 vote – ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 “makes it illegal for employers to discriminate because of a person’s sex, among other factors”, also encompasses a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the decision for the court, emphasized that differential treatment based on a person’s sexuality or gender constitutes a form of sex discrimination.
“An employer who fired an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Gorsuch wrote. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids.”
Gorsuch also said that the enforcement of law must align with the law’s original purpose, even if the enforcement surpasses lawmakers’ initial conception of the legislation.
“Those who adopted the Civil Rights Act might not have anticipated their work would lead to this particular result,” he added. “But the limits of the drafters’ imagination supply no reason to ignore the law’s demands.”
State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida’s first openly-LGBTQ Latinx lawmaker, called the SCOTUS decision “a tremendous ruling and a great day for LGBTQ Americans.”
This is a tremendous ruling and a great day for LGBTQ Americans. The SCOTUS has affirmed what advocates have long argued— that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is sex discrimination and is illegal under federal law. The ruling’s impact is immediate and every American can rest assured… pic.twitter.com/CEHYJAD9Sn
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) June 15, 2020
The LGBTQ+ coalition One Orlando Alliance marked the occasion by hosting an “informal, pop-up celebration” on June 15 to bring together local members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies.
Others responded to the Supreme Court decision on social media from local leaders Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto to local LGBTQ+ organizations such as Zebra Coalition, The Center Orlando and QLatinx.
No one should have to choose between a job and being who they are. I applaud today's Supreme Court decision to extend federal civil rights protections to members of the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace.https://t.co/OCTsQdIKNF
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) June 15, 2020
Still sobbing BRB 😭🌈 https://t.co/9zNvJvgA97
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, PhD 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) June 15, 2020
Great news. Glad to see they got this one right. https://t.co/XSLfgigOHx
— Former Congresswoman Val Demings (@RepValDemings) June 15, 2020
A much needed bright spot during this #PrideMonth. When the House passed the #EqualityAct last year, we knew then what SCOTUS has reaffirmed now: LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. https://t.co/FVagTbD93r
— Archive: U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (@RepStephMurphy) June 15, 2020
The Supreme Court‘s decision is a major milestone in our journey to make these United States a more perfect and equal union. Now Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination for sexual orientation in the workplace. Love is redeemed & justice served today! https://t.co/65STwxUKNy
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) June 15, 2020
You can view photos from One Orlando Alliance’s Pop-Up Supreme Court Ruling Gathering below.
Photos by Jeremy Williams.
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