All eyes are on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as justices consider the case of an Indiana teacher who filed a lawsuit claiming she was denied a permanent position and promotions because she is a lesbian. Historically, courts have ruled that gay people are not protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and previous lawsuits challenging LGBT discrimination have failed and appeals have been denied.
Although some states have laws that prohibit discrimination against members of the LGBT community, there is currently no federal law in place to protect LGBT workers. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, and religion. The issue at stake is whether or not protections from sex discrimination also pertain to sexual orientation. Some people are speculating that the 2015 Supreme Court Ruling preventing bans on gay marriage could affect the judges’ decision. A victory in this case could have a profound impact on similar pending cases and the future of LGBT discrimination protection.
Philadelphia discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates, P.C. fight for the rights of clients affected by all types of employment discrimination. If you were fired from your job or denied a promotion because of your race, religion, national origin, sex or sexual orientation, call 215-569-1999 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to significant damages from your employer.
