LGBT-Related Issues Under Title VII Presented by Howard B. Tarkow Maslon LLP March 18, 2015.

LGBT-Related Issues Under Title VII

Presented by

Howard B. Tarkow

Maslon LLP

March 18, 2015

© 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


“Sex-related, humiliating actions”

Sexual assault

Threatened rape

Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Incorporated, 523 U.S. 75 (1998)

Same Sex Harassment


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



Yes

Male Female

Female Male

Same Sex Harassment

Transgender

LGB

? ? ?

YesYes



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


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



“Impermissible Catch-22”

Women – don’t be aggressive

Job requires aggressiveness

Out if you are

Out if you aren’t


“Title VII lifts women out of this bind.”

490 U.S. at 251


Today

Courts: “Near-total uniformity”

Gender non-conformity = sex discrimination

Glenn v. Brumby, 663 F.2d 1312, 1318, n.5 (11th Cir. 2011)



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 – EEOC is Litigating


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



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




Yes

Male Female

Female Male

Same Sex Harassment

Transgender

LGB

?

YesYes

Yes

?



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


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


Muhammad v. Caterpillar, Inc.

Sexual orientation discrimination No Title VII claim

Retaliation – Complaining of such discriminationNo Title VII claim

LGB Discrimination


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


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)


What About Federal Law?


Creates LGBT protected classActual discrimination

Perceived discrimination

Prohibits retaliation

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (“ENDA”)


4/25/13 – House H.R. 1755; Senate S.815

11/7/13 – Passed Senate, 64-32

206 House sponsors

Thomas.loc.gov

ENDA


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?


ENDA Abandoned?


Joint statement withdrawing support of ENDA

Hobby Lobby – “blank check”

Discriminate against LGBT

ENDA Abandoned?


LGB Protection – Federal Contractors


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



Male Female

Female Male

Same Sex Harassment

Transgender

LGB

YesYes

YesYes

?No . . . but


Thank you!

LGBT-Related Issues Under Title VII

LGBT-Related Issues Under Title VII Presented by Howard B. Tarkow Maslon LLP March 18, 2015.

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