The glifaa board is elated by today’s Supreme Court decisions regarding LGBT+ employment rights. These decisions mark a victory for justice and equality for the LGBT+ community.

As our members already know too well, discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity is still pervasive. We were reminded of that just this last Friday when HHS issued a rule sanctioning discrimination in healthcare. But tonight LGBT+ people throughout the country can rest easy, knowing that our right to make a living free from fear of discrimination and harassment is protected by the force of law.

Together, today’s decision in three cases, Bostock v. Clayton County, Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes Inc. v. EEOC, mean that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It also means that the remedies that are available to other protected classes when they face discrimination are available to LGBT+ employees.

In the coming days, glifaa will work with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) to ensure that today’s decision is incorporated as quickly as possible into Department policy and guidance that can be disseminated to all employees.

While LGBT+ protections at the Department of State are not based exclusively on Title VII, the added protection under Title VII puts LGBT+ employees on equal footing with other employees. If you have faced discrimination at work based on sexual orientation or gender identity, reach out to an EEO counselor immediately.