Title VII Now Protects LGBTQ Employees: Where Employers Go from Here

On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, and the Supreme Court explained that one cannot discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity without discriminating on the basis of sex. This ruling will have implications on workplaces across the country, particularly those in states previously without those protections. This article discusses the three cases decided by the Supreme Court, summarizes the Supreme Court’s opinion, and provides implications for employers and employees across the United States.