Federal Judge Strikes Down LGBTQ Protections Against Workplace Discrimination
3 minute readPublished: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 6:12 pm
A federal judge in Texas has issued a controversial ruling that could significantly weaken workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, known for his conservative views, declared that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, no longer protects LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in the workplace. This decision directly contradicts the Supreme Court's 2020 ruling in *Bostock v. Clayton County*, which affirmed that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity constitutes sex discrimination.
The case was brought against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by the state of Texas, supported by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling focused on the Texas Department of Agriculture's employee policies, including dress codes and restroom access, arguing that these policies do not constitute discrimination. He reasoned that policies requiring employees to adhere to dress codes based on their biological sex and denying transgender employees access to restrooms aligning with their gender identity are not discriminatory. The judge also stated that Title VII only protects against firing someone for being homosexual or transgender, but not from harassment.
This ruling effectively removes references to sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under Title VII from EEOC guidance. It targets and nullifies specific sections of the 2024 EEOC guidance that define sex-based discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This decision has the potential to allow employers to discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees, despite the Supreme Court's previous ruling.
BNN's Perspective: This ruling is a concerning development for LGBTQ+ rights. While the legal battle is far from over, this decision highlights the ongoing challenges in securing equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. It underscores the importance of continued advocacy and legal challenges to ensure that the Supreme Court's precedent is upheld and that LGBTQ+ individuals are protected from workplace discrimination.
Keywords: LGBTQ+ rights, workplace discrimination, Title VII, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, Bostock v. Clayton County, EEOC, Texas, Heritage Foundation, gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender, employment law, civil rights, discrimination, Supreme Court, legal challenge, far-right, conservative, EEOC guidance, sex discrimination, workplace harassment.