LGBTQ+ Discrimination Attorneys
Just like gender and race discrimination, discriminating against someone in the workplace because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a major issue in the United States. The lawyers at Sanford Heisler Sharp, believe that everyone has the right to be treated equally and not be discriminated against for the identities they hold.
According to the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, “over 40% of LGBT workers (45.5%) reported experiencing unfair treatment at work, including being fired, not hired, or harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity at some point in their lives. This discrimination and harassment is ongoing: nearly one-third (31.1%) of LGBT respondents reported that they experienced discrimination or harassment within the past five years.”
On This Page
- Examples of LGBTQ+ Discrimination
- Are LGBTQ+ Employees Protected in the Workplace?
- How Our Lawyers Can Help You
Examples Of LGBTQ+ Discrimination
Examples of LGBTQ+ discrimination include:
- Being harassed by your employer or co-workers based on your sexual preference or gender identity
- Hearing derogatory comments about homosexual, bisexual, or transgender individuals
- Being denied a promotion based on your sexual preference or gender identity
- Being treated differently by your manager, especially after they discover your sexual orientation or gender identity
- Being denied insurance or other work benefits because of your sexual orientation or gender identity
Are LGBTQ+ Employees Protected In The Workplace?
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees and ruled that “[a]n employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.” Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., Nos. 17-1618, 17-1623 & 18-107, 2020 WL 3146686, at *18 (June 15, 2020).
Additionally, many states have stepped in to protect LGBTQ workers. According to the Human Rights Campaign’s “State Maps of Laws & Policies,” here are the states that currently prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity:
- California (See San Diego and San Francisco), Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
Here are states that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation only:
- Wisconsin
Here are states that prohibit discrimination against public employees based
on sexual orientation and gender identity:
- Arizona, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio
Here are states that prohibit discrimination against public employees based
on sexual orientation only:
- Missouri
Federal employees are covered by anti-discrimination guidelines, and these protections are extended to employees who work in the private sector who decide to file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In fact, many employers have now begun to enact rules against discrimination: 91% of Fortune 500 companies now prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 83% prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.
How Our Lawyers Can Help You
The LGBTQ+ discrimination lawyers at Sanford Heisler Sharp help clients throughout the country with all types of workplace discrimination and harassment cases. We have won millions of dollars for those who suffered discrimination in the workplace.
