EEOC Makes Historic Gender Identity Discrimination Ruling

Details: Category: LGBT Issues; Published on Tuesday, 24 April 2012 20:13; Written by Lara Landis; Hits: 404

The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled that Title VII protections apply to gender minorities as well as sexual minorities. The news does not prevent housing discrimination in states that do not prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The EEOC’s April 20 ruling supersedes state laws that allow for discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

The Title VII civil rights act was passed in 1964. The new ruling came down on April 20. All 5 members of the commission voted unanimously in favor of the decision. A growing number of trial courts have ruled that gender identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, regardless of an applicant’s transgender status.

The ruling follows a trend developing in many appellate courts and may negate the need for Mia Macy’s case against the ATF to be heard. Macy alleges that the ATF did not hire her when the agency found out about her transgender status.

Masen Davis, of the Transgender Law Center, hailed the EEOC’s decision as a big leap forward.

Source:

Transgender Breakthrough