Gavel Drop: Gender Identity Discrimination Cases Working Through Courts
A slew of cases are testing the limits of Title VII in covering gender identity discrimination claims in the workplace.
Welcome to Gavel Drop, our roundup of legal news, headlines, and head-shaking moments in the courts.
In Kentucky, a federal court ruled that the anti-employment discrimination law Title VII covers claims of a transgender man who alleged he was fired for not conforming to the gender stereotypes of acting and dressing like his biological sex.
Meanwhile, an Indiana federal court ruled that a county clerk did not violate Title VII when she fired a clerk who refused to process same-sex couples’ marriage licenses on religious grounds.
In North Carolina, the Charlotte City Council voted to repeal its bathroom ordinance that sparked conservative lawmakers in the state to pass HB 2, a sweeping anti-LGBTQ law. The repeal is reportedly part of negotiations for the repeal of HB 2 as well. Stay tuned.
A recent attempt to protect the rights of LGBTQ people in Louisiana state government, or those affected by public contracts, was just tossed by a state judge.
In Maine, a pagan priest won the right to wear goat horns in his driver’s license picture after arguing they are part of his religious attire.
The ACLU sued to block a Florida law mandating that anyone who counsels women about abortions must provide an explanation about the procedure, including alternatives, before making referrals or assisting in obtaining abortions. The legal organization argued the law unconstitutionally violates the First Amendment rights of clergy and other nonmedical professionals who provide abortion counseling and referrals.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck as unconstitutional a requirement that abortion providers in the state have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
Since the election, threats against abortion providers and clinics are on the rise.
New York legislators are considering a possible law that could offer justice to those who fight back against abusive partners.
Slate‘s Dahlia Lithwick is at her best with this piece about how it’s the women of the U.S. Supreme Court who offer examples of women’s leadership and power in these dark political times.
Election officials and experts are questioning whether voter ID laws contributed to Hillary Clinton’s loss.
Women now make up a majority of the country’s law students.