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Friends –
This morning, in a major victory for LGBTQ Americans, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, also protects people who are fired because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It’s a historic day: The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the fundamental equality of LGBTQ Americans, including the more than 5 million who live in Southern states. The ruling ensures a blanket of employment protections for LGBTQ people rather than the inadequate patchwork that has all but stopped at the borders of Southern states. For LGBTQ Southerners, the decision shows yet again that that no one should face discrimination because of who they are or who they love.
The decision comes at a time when millions of Americans are facing unemployment or reduced employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As LGBTQ people venture back into the job market, we’re grateful for this measure of relief: The legal protection that employers can no longer use anti-LGBTQ bias as a weapon in the workplace.
While we’re grateful for this step forward, we all must remain committed to this month’s deepened and long overdue conversation around racial injustice. We lift up the reality that Southerners with multiple marginalized identities face multiple layers of oppression. Black LGBTQ Southerners, for example, not only confront employment discrimination but also police brutality, anti-Black racism, and disproportionate rates of living with HIV. As we celebrate today’s ruling, we must continue to push for dignity, respect, and justice for all LGBTQ people in every sphere of life.
We’re so grateful for your support and everything that you’ve done to build momentum toward this terrific decision. And now, as we double down and keep our eyes on the ultimate goal of lived and legal equality for LGBTQ Southerners everywhere, we’d once again appreciate your support.
If you’re able to make a donation to the Campaign for Southern Equality, please click here to give.
Thank you,
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Campaign for Southern Equality
P.S. Our partners at the National Equality Action Team are hosting a Virtual Rally and Town Hall that will share more about what the decision means and what's next! Click here to RSVP for the event, which will take place today at 4pm ET!
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