SCOTUS Protects LGBTQI+ Workers From Bias and Discrimination
Contact: Jacquelyn Marrero; [email protected]; 646-642-6682
For Immediate Release: June 15, 2020 (Updated: June 15, 2020, 5:58 p.m.)
New York - Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that denying someone a job or firing them for being LGBTQI+ is a direct violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court said federal law, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, should be understood to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While some states in the US, including New York, had already explicitly extended such protections to LGBTQI+ workers, before this decision it was legal in more than half the states to fire someone for being gay, bisexual, or transgender.
Statement from Laura McQuade, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York:
“Today the Supreme Court affirmed what we’ve long known—that NO ONE should be denied a job or fired simply because of who they are or who they love. Today's decision is a stunning victory for LGBTQI+ people and their right to live with dignity and freedom and without discrimination in their place of work. While this ruling is a crucial moment in the fight for equality, we have a long road ahead. The LGBTQI+ community, especially Black trans people, are too often targets of hateful attacks and biases across their lives. Just Friday, the Trump-Pence administration finalized a harmful rule encouraging health care discrimination against transgender people that could prevent them from getting the care they need and deserve. We must eviscerate systemic racism and injustice in order to achieve true freedom. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York stands proud with our LGBTQI+ patients, partners, supporters, and the broader community. We will never stop fighting for your health care needs, pronouns, and rights.”
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Planned Parenthood of Greater New York (PPGNY) is a leading provider, educator, and advocate of sexual and reproductive health care in New York State. PPGNY offers a wide range of services at its 30 locations across 65% of NYS - including gynecological care; birth control; cancer screenings; pregnancy testing; STI testing and treatment; HIV prevention, testing, and counseling; transgender hormone therapy; and vasectomy. PPGNY is also proud to provide abortion services to anyone who needs compassionate, non-judgmental care. PPGNY is a trusted source of medically-accurate, evidence-based information that allows people to make informed decisions about their health and future. As a voice for reproductive freedom, PPGNY supports legislation and policies that ensure all New Yorkers have access to the full range of reproductive health services and education.