What a day. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 vote that it is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for employers to discriminate against LGBT employees.
I read the opinion in Bostock v Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 (2020), have taken it in, and want to share two initial thoughts:
First, I am both thrilled with the decision, and deeply saddened that in the midst of this monumental decision, African Americans, which include those who identify as LGBTQ, continue to be unjustly killed, attacked, bullied, threatened, and made to stand up for their right to watch birds, sell water, gather for a picnic, enjoy time in their homes, and to simply breathe.
The Black Lives Matter Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement seeks to change our nation's discriminatory and often horrific treatment of African Americans for centuries. Two of the founders of BLM identify as queer, and a founder of the global network is a transgender woman. While we savor this moment, we must also work in solidarity with the BLM movement.
Remembering Gerry Crane
Second, since I have recently written a book about Gerry Crane, the Byron Center high school music teacher who in the mid-1990s lost his job, and ultimately his life because he was gay, my thoughts have also been about him today.
He should be her to relish this victory. Further, the USSC decision involved three different cases, and tow of the three plaintiffs died before the court's decision today.
We should remember the lives of Gerry Crane, Aimee Stephens, and Donald Zarda (the two plaintiffs who passed away) and recognize their role, along with many others who have gone before us, in clearing a path to today's decision.
Interested in reading Private Love Public School?
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