LGBT-Related Issues Under Title VII Presented by Howard B. Tarkow Maslon LLP March 18, 2015.
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© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
“Because of Sex”
Male Female Yes
Female Male Yes
Same Sex Harassment ?
Transgender ?LGB ?
Title VII Prohibits Sex Discrimination
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
“Sex-related, humiliating actions”
Sexual assault
Threatened rape
Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Incorporated, 523 U.S. 75 (1998)
Same Sex Harassment
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
Justice Scalia:
“(S)tatutory prohibitions often go beyond the principal evil to cover reasonably comparable evils, and it is ultimately the provisions of our laws rather than the principal concerns of our legislators by which we are governed.”
Oncale, 523 U.S. at 79
Same Sex Discrimination
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
Title VII Prohibits Sex Discrimination
Yes
Male Female
Female Male
Same Sex Harassment
Transgender
LGB
? ? ?
YesYes
“Because of Sex”
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
EEOC –
Transgender Discrimination = Sex Discrimination
United State Supreme Court -
Non-conformance = “Sex Stereotyping”
Socially-prescribed gender roles
Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989)
Transgender (Gender Identity) Discrimination
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Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins
“Coup de grace”
“Walk more femininely,
talk more femininely,
dress more femininely,
wear make-up,
have her hair styled,
and wear jewelry.” 490 U.S. at 235
Transgender (Gender Identity) Discrimination
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“Impermissible Catch-22”
Women – don’t be aggressive
Job requires aggressiveness
Out if you are
Out if you aren’t
Transgender (Gender Identity) Discrimination
“Title VII lifts women out of this bind.”
490 U.S. at 251
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
Today
Courts: “Near-total uniformity”
Gender non-conformity = sex discrimination
Glenn v. Brumby, 663 F.2d 1312, 1318, n.5 (11th Cir. 2011)
Transgender (Gender Identity) Discrimination
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Glenn v. Brumby
Gender non-conformity discrimination = unconstitutional – denies equal protection
Title VII – Encompasses biological differences
Title VII – Non-conformance to stereotypical norms
663 F.2d at 1316
Transgender (Gender Identity) Discrimination
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EEOC v. R.G & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc., No. 2:14-cv-13710-SFC-DRG (E.D. Mich. Sept. 25, 2014)
Fired because of transgender
Fired because of transitioning
Fired for non-conformance
eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release
Transgender – EEOC is Litigating
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EEOC v. Lakeland Eye Clinic, P.A., No. 8:14-cv-2421-T35 AEP (M.D. Fla., Sept. 25, 2014)
Fined because of transgender
Fined because of transitioning
Fined for non-conformance
eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release
Transgender – EEOC is Litigating
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
Title VII Prohibits Sex Discrimination
Yes
Male Female
Female Male
Same Sex Harassment
Transgender
LGB
?
YesYes
Yes
?
“Because of Sex”
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
EEOC (2011)
Veretto v. Donahoe (U.S. Postal Service), EEOC Appeal No. 0120110873 (July 1, 2011)
Same sex marriage
Non-adherence to norms
Sex stereotyping – violates Title VII
Sexual orientation – not unlawful
LGB Discrimination
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EEOC (2014): Title VII prohibits some sexual orientation discrimination
“Black faggot a..”
“Know it all fag”
“Has AIDS”
“__ __ __” (redacted)
Muhammad v. Caterpillar, Inc., 767 F.3d 694, 696 (7th Cir. 2014)
LGB Discrimination
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Muhammad v. Caterpillar, Inc.
Sexual orientation discrimination No Title VII claim
Retaliation – Complaining of such discriminationNo Title VII claim
LGB Discrimination
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EEOC Amicus Brief–Muhammad v. Caterpillar, Inc.
“Untenable” based on Price Waterhouse
Sexual orientation – Title VII discrimination Sex-based norms
Preferences
Expectations
Stereotype
LGB Discrimination
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21 states and D.C. protect LGB
18 states and D.C. protect gender identity
88% of Fortune 500 protect LGB
57% of Fortune 500 protect gender identity
Other Protections for LGB
www.hrc.org (as of December 18, 2014)
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Creates LGBT protected classActual discrimination
Perceived discrimination
Prohibits retaliation
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (“ENDA”)
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4/25/13 – House H.R. 1755; Senate S.815
11/7/13 – Passed Senate, 64-32
206 House sponsors
Thomas.loc.gov
ENDA
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Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S.Ct. 2751 (2014)
Closely-held religious corporations
Sincere religious beliefs
Life begins at conception
ACA regulations violate Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993
ENDA Abandoned?
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Joint statement withdrawing support of ENDA
Hobby Lobby – “blank check”
Discriminate against LGBT
ENDA Abandoned?
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Amends Executive Order 11246
Federal contractors – no discrimination
Federal employees – gender identity protection
No faith-based exemption
dol.gov 7/21/14
LGB Protection – Federal Contractors
© 2014 Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP©2015 Maslon LLP
Title VII Prohibits Sex Discrimination
Male Female
Female Male
Same Sex Harassment
Transgender
LGB
YesYes
YesYes
?No . . . but
“Because of Sex”
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