In a landmark decision, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Zarda v. Altitude Express, Inc., en banc, became the second federal appellate court to hold that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)), which makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate on the basis of sex, also prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation. It appears that the defendant does not intend to seek Supreme Court review. Therefore, employers subject to Title VII, particularly those in the Second Circuit (i.e., Connecticut, New York and Vermont), should know about this opinion and consider how and whether it may apply to them.
Continue Reading Second Circuit holds that Title VII prohibits sexual orientation discrimination

On May 12, Representatives Stewart and McGregor introduced into the Ohio House of Representatives H.B. 176 to add “sexual orientation or gender identity and expression” to the list of protected classes under Chapter 4112, Ohio’s anti-discrimination statute, and R.C. 4111.17, which prohibits wage discrimination.
Continue Reading Bill Introduced to Add Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression to Protected Classes Under Ohio Law