More than one million work discrimination cases have been filed since 2010, according to a report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. LGBT community waits for the supreme court’s decision.
In most cases, the first recourse a worker has is to file a complaint with a local and state partner agency or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. However, sadly, not everyone may get their right since most states lack laws to protect LGBT workers, who are often a victim of workplace discrimination.
This is because it isn’t fully illegal to fire someone for being transgender or gay in 28 states including South Carolina. These states are yet to introduce laws that prevent workplace discrimination against LGBT employees.
LGBT Community Awaits Ruling
In some cases, counties and cities offer local protection but that may not be enough. However, there’s a relief since The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission now treats LGBT-based discrimination cases as sex discrimination. However, that may soon change depending on how the Supreme Court rules in cases involving gay men and transgender women in New York, Michigan, and Georgia.
Presently, only 21 US states have their own laws that prohibit workplace discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. North Carolina a few years ago passed a law blocking local governments from creating their own ordinances governing discrimination cases involving LGBT workers.
The Supreme Court’s decision will have a huge impact on a number of cases, including Lonnie Billard’s lawsuit in North Carolina against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. Billard was fired from his job in 2014 when he announced on social media his decision to marry his long-time boyfriend.
The case has been put on hold until the Supreme Court announces its verdict.
Such victims may face a difficult time if the Supreme Court announces federal law does not protect LGBT workers from workplace arassment for being in same-sex marriage.
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