Is it acceptable to fire someone based only on their sexual orientation or gender identity?
Donald Trump’s Justice Department has inserted itself in a private employment dispute to assert that it no longer believes LGBT people are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law is the legal basis for barring discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex or national origin.”
in 2015, the Obama Justice Department and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission both issued opinions that “sex” discrimination is not limited to gender, but covers orientation as well as identity. This was a landmark decision for LGBT rights, but was not legally binding.
Now, the Trump administration has signaled a reversal, claiming that Congressional action would be required to include orientation and identity in Title VII protections. This could have immediate impact on pending cases, as well as future discrimination against LGBT people.
In most states, there are no state-level protections against identity- or orientation- based discrimination (including Ohio).
For more information, visit: https://goo.gl/aM82Zy
Call the Department of Justice Comment Line: 202-353-1555
Express your anger and disappointment that the agency charged with protecting the rights of all Americans would choose to interpret the law in a way that excludes some from protection.
Call Rep. Mike Turner: 937-225-2843
Tell him you’ve heard about the Trump Administration’s reversal on Title VII protections for LGBT people, and that you support equal protections for all Ohioans. Ask him to support H.R. 2282, the Equality Act, which would clarify the Civil Rights act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.