PFLAG National Statement on Hively Workplace Victory

WASHINGTON, DC—Yesterday, the Seventh Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that sexual orientation is protected from workplace discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

PFLAG National—the nation’s largest organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)—issued the following statement from Interim Executive Director Elizabeth Kohm in response to this victory:

“Equal protection under the law should mean just that: equal protection. This decision confirms that premise, and is especially important given the efforts in Indiana to create legal exceptions to nondiscrimination protections under the guise of “Religious Freedom” during then-Governor Pence’s tenure. We are heartened, too, that this decision which affirms that people who are lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act was written by an overwhelming majority of the court. These protections are, however, limited to Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin and are still subject to dispute and confusion, leading to further discrimination elsewhere in our country. PFLAGers everywhere call on Congress to pass the Equality Act when introduced, to affirm and protect the basic civil right of all people to be able to work free from discrimination, and to afford LGBTQ people the dignity and fairness they deserve.”

PFLAG is the nation’s largest organization uniting families, allies, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education, and advocacy, and has more than 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities, and rural areas in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit pflag.org, like us on Facebook (/pflag), or follow us on Twitter (@pflag) or Instagram (@pflagnational).