(April 4, 2017 San Francisco)— Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a landmark decision holding that federal laws protecting workers from sex discrimination prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Reversing older decisions denying federal protection to LGBTQ workers, the court concluded that developments in U.S. Supreme Court precedent over the past two decades required the court to reconsider its earlier cases and conclude...
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employment discrimination
Federal government no longer required to weigh a history of LGBTQ employment discrimination against a company when deciding with which companies to do business (March 28, 2017 San Francisco)—Yesterday, the Trump Administration quietly issued an executive order rescinding Obama administration progress toward eliminating LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace. Previously, former president Barack Obama’s Executive Order 13673 took aim at LGBTQ discrimination by requiring federal contractors to...
Statement by NCLR State Policy Director Liz Seaton, Esq. (Takoma Park, MD, December 6, 2011)—The National Center for Lesbian Rights applauds the Howard County Council for passing an ordinance to protect transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The Council voted 4-1 late yesterday to pass the measure. The county executive has 10 days in which to sign it. The ordinance goes into effect 61 days after it is signed and will be enforced by the Howard...
Statement by NCLR Federal Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq. (San Francisco, CA, October 11, 2011)—One of the most prominent leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality movement—Dr. Frank Kameny—passed away at his Washington D.C.-area home today. He was 86. In 1957, Kameny was dismissed from his position as an astronomer in the Army Map Service because he was gay, motivating him at the time to become a leading voice in the movement for equality and justice. He protested...
Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert (San Francisco, CA, June 21, 2011)—Today, Representatives Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), and Melvin L. Watt (D-NC) called on President Barack Obama to restore essential employment protections and religious freedom. The request comes on the 70th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt issuing Executive Order 8802, which prohibited employment...
Councilmembers, Residents, Organizations File Suit Calling HB600 Unconstitutional (Nashville, TN, June 13, 2011)—A group of local elected officials, individuals, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights organizations filed a lawsuit today in Davidson County Chancery Court, challenging the state’s recent passage of House Bill 600, which prohibits local municipalities and counties, including local school districts, from enacting local laws or school policies that protect gay and...
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell (San Francisco, CA, April 14, 2011)—Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, announced that they introduced the fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit most employers across the country from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers. The bill, known as ENDA, would make it illegal under federal law for employers with...
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell (San Francisco, CA, March 30, 2011)—Today, U.S. Representative Barney Frank, D-Mass., announced that he will reintroduce the fully inclusive Employeee Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit most employers across the country from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers. The bill, known as ENDA, would make it illegal under federal law for employers with at least 15 employees to discriminate against, harass, or...
NCLR and attorney Michael Shirk from the National Education Association/Texas State Teacher’s Association negotiated a settlement on behalf of Merry Stephens, an award-winning teacher and basketball coach with Bloomburg Independent School District in the small rural community of Bloomburg, Texas. Coach Stephens was honored as a “Teacher of the Year” in 2004 and named “Coach of the Year” in three of her five years as head coach of the Lady Wildcats basketball team....