At a time of national demonstrations in support of Black lives and against systemic racism and during a national health crisis, it is heartening to have good news from the Supreme Court. The decision handed down by the Court today affirms and emphasizes the importance of Americans coming together for the good of the nation and all its people. The Supreme Court has ruled that companies do not have a right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in the workplace. This historic decision says that LGBTQ+ people are, and should be, protected from discrimination under federal law. And while this is welcome news, the reality is that we still have much to do.
Changes to Section 1557 of the Health Care Rights Law last Friday rolling back healthcare protections for transgender people, as well as the pervasive racism that continues to exist across our country, demonstrate the long road we still have ahead to end discrimination.
There are still critical gaps in our federal non‐discrimination laws. It is still legal for federally funded entities including hospitals, colleges, and adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. It is also legal for stores, restaurants, and hotels to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community in certain situations.
“Comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ+ people are about basic human needs. They ensure everyday Americans are able to earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, receive medical care, and take care of the ones they love,” said Denise Spivak, CenterLink’s CEO.
CenterLink calls on Congress to pass full federal non‐discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people and to continue working toward true equality for ALL people.
At 4pm PT / 7pm ET, CenterLink will join a virtual national rally with other LGBTQ+ leaders from across the country and those who led the fight for these cases. Immediately after the rally, a panel of experts will discuss the court’s opinion and offer analysis of its potential effects. The public is welcome to attend both events. Learn more at www.decisionday.org.
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CenterLink develops strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and builds a thriving center network that creates healthy, vibrant communities. Founded in 1994, CenterLink plays an important role in addressing the challenges centers face by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity, access public resources, and engage their regional communities in the grassroots social justice movement. www.lgbtcenters.org.
