North Texas LGBTQ advocates are celebrating Monday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on sexual discrimination in the workforce. In a 6-3 vote, the court ruled that LGBTQ employees can't be fired because of their sexual orientation.
This means the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars sex discrimination in the workplace, now includes LGBTQ employees under its protections. The ruling has resonated across the country and advocates in North Texas spent Monday reflecting on how the victory for the LGBTQ community.
Reverend Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor at Dallas Cathedral of Hope
“As a man of faith, this is an important step because when we work together and we find ways to bring down those systems of oppression there is definitely hope. I think it does send a signal that we are going to eventually win in the layers of discrimination that happen specifically for black and brown people — that we’re also working together to break those systems of oppression.”
Josh Cogan, Executive Director of OutLast Youth
“This is a major accomplishment. Now youth and young adults applying for jobs no longer have to have this fear that they can be wrongfully terminated for identifying as LGBTQ.”
Cece Cox, CEO of Resource Center
“It’s exhilarating. This is a huge step forward where legal protections are now affirmed in place, crystal clear as it should be. And now the work continues.”
