AFT President Randi Weingarten Celebrates Supreme Court Ruling Protecting LGBTQ Workers from Termination

WASHINGTON—In response to the Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County where the majority decided that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex—also applies to gay and transgender people, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued the statement below. The union submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the petitioners.

“We will remember this day. This is a historic moment for gay and transgender rights in America, when the highest court in the land rules, 6-3, that the words of Title VII mean what it says -- that LGBTQ workers are protected against discrimination in the workplace. In plain English, sexual orientation and gender identity are not fireable offenses. This is a vital step, particularly as the Trump administration works to dismantle rights and freedoms from LGBTQ people in so many other ways. 

“As our nation comes to grips with the public health, economic and racial justice crises we continue to face, let us rejoice, for a moment, in this important victory for every gay and transgender person who can now get up and go to work every day without the cloak of fear that their employer can fire them simply for being themselves. In the ruling, Justice Gorsuch writes that we cannot separate gender discrimination from discrimination based on sexual identification or gender identity. We couldn’t agree more. Today, we are one step closer to more just workplaces in America.”