UFCW 21 Celebrates Today’s Supreme Court Ruling Affirming LGBTQ Workers’ Rights

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UFCW 21 Celebrates Today’s Supreme Court Ruling Affirming LGBTQ Workers’ Rights 

Today’s Supreme Court ruling confirms the legal precedent of what our union already knows: all working people deserve a workplace that is free from discrimination based on who we are. No one deserves to be fired or denied a job because of our gender identity or sexual orientation. That has now been upheld as federal law by the highest court in the country, offering millions of workers legal protection from discrimination at work. For this decision to be announced during Pride Month makes it extra joyous, and we lift up and join in UFCW OUTreach’s celebration of a meaningful victory and continued dedication to the work of building a more inclusive world. 

From today’s Supreme Court ruling: 

In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee’s sex when deciding to fire that employee. We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law. 

While employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity is already prohibited here in Washington State where most of our members live, and we are proud of the organizing we have done in our home state to further the rights of LGBTQ workers, no one should lose their basic rights just because they crossed state lines. Our union stands in solidarity with all our LGBTQ members and LGBTQ workers across the country.

How to get involved in LGBTQ rights in the labor movement: 

  • UFCW OUTreach is a UFCW constituency group working to ensure full equality for LGBTQ+ workers on their jobs and in their unions. UFCW members can sign up for updates from UFCW OUTreach or join the group at ufcwoutreach.org/join-1 

  • Pride at Work is a UFCW 21 community partner organization dedicated to mutual support between the organized labor movement and the LGBTQ community to further social and economic justice. Learn more at prideatwork.org 

  • LGBTQ Allyship is a UFCW 21 community partner building power among LGBTQ communities and allies in Washington State to work towards economic, racial, and gender justice. Learn more at allyship.org

  • Ingersoll Gender Center is a UFCW 21 community partner and one of the oldest organizations by and for transgender and gender nonconforming communities in the United States. Learn more at ingersollgendercenter.org

  • Gender Justice League is a UFCW 21 community partner working to empower trans activists and our allies to fight oppression based on gender & sexuality in Washington State. Learn more at genderjusticeleague.org

More on this court ruling: