CLUW Supports Today's Landmark Supreme Court Decision Protecting LGBTQ Workers

Thanks to Jeff Wiggins for sending us this story from CLUW.

Click here to read AFGE Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Affirming Job Protections for LGBTQ+ Workers

Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: With today’s decision, the Supreme Court has affirmed the labor movement’s long held conviction, in our collective bargaining agreements and our activism, that no one should be fired because of who they are. This is a momentous step forward for equality in an otherwise dark time, as America suffers from a public health pandemic, an economic free fall and the poison of structural racism. The LGBTQ community is now freer under the protection of a law fought for and won by the Black civil rights movement a generation ago, another reminder that we are all in this together. Let’s use this moment not to rest, but to push forward so every single worker in America can live and work under the banner of liberty and justice for all.

FROM CLUW

In a landmark decision today, the United States Supreme Court announced a historic ruling that protects LGBTQ workers against workplace discrimination!

Just yesterday in the majority of states in America an LGBTQ person could be fired just for being gay or transgender with no protection from the law. Not today. In this unlikely time an amazing victory has been won and CLUW is proud to support this monumental Supreme Court decision.

CLUW President Elise Bryant shared the following words "In the midst of this tipping point time in America, the Supreme Court made a historic decision against workplace discrimination affecting LGBTQ workers! CLUW joins with our sibling organization, Pride at Work, in celebrating this moment in history. As we all know, our work to end discrimination and bigotry is not done, but it sure feels great to hear some good news for a change!"

This win was a result of the cases brought by Aimee Stephens, Gerald Bostock, and Don Zarda. Aimee was fired by her employer after coming out as trans, and Gerald and Don were fired for being gay. Today the Supreme Court made it clear that what happened to them was not just wrong—it was illegal.

We encourage you to read this statement from fellow AFL-CIO constituency group Pride at Work for more context about this decision. Select quotes from their Executive Director, Jerame Davisare, below:

"We’ve said over and over that LGBTQ working people deserve the dignity and respect of being protected from discrimination at work and now the Supreme Court agrees. In this moment of national uncertainty, we all need some good news and this is a huge win for equality.

"Not every working person has the benefit of an inclusive union contract to protect them from discrimination on the job. Until today, half of LGBTQ people lived in a state that had no law to protect them from discrimination. Economic justice for marginalized communities is at the core of the labor movement's work. Unions fight every day to ensure the dignity and respect of every working person and this decision helps advance that cause.

"We are not done... We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted our community both economically and medically. LGBTQ folk, especially Black and brown people, face harassment and violence in their daily lives. In particular, Black trans women are at risk as we’ve seen just these last few weeks with the murder of 2 Black trans women (Riah Milton in Ohio and Dominique “Rem’Mie” Fells). A Black transgender man, Tony McDade was also the victim of a police shooting just days after George Floyd was murdered by police. Thousands of Immigrants, many of whom are LGBTQ, are still being held in cages at our borders. There’s still a lot we must accomplish to make real a truly just and equitable society."

As Jerame noted, while this is a massive win there is still much more that needs to be gained. In many states it's still legal to deny housing or other public services to LGBTQ people, and the LGBTQ community still faces disparities in healthcare, education, and more.

That’s why we need Congress to pass the Equality Act—landmark legislation that would explicitly provide these protections. The House of Representatives passed the bill last year, and now it’s time to pressure the Senate to do the same. Tell Your Senators to Pass the Equality Act Now!

No one should face discrimination simply because of who they are. Thank you to all the work that has been done to result in this historic decision and we are ready to fight for even more!