Discrimination

Discrimination is unjust or prejudicial treatment of people based on characteristics like sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, or disability. LGBTQ+ people can face it in employment, housing, healthcare, education, and public accommodations. In 2020 the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that firing someone for being gay or transgender is a form of sex discrimination banned by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, a major win for workplace protections. That ruling does not cover every area of life, and many states still lack explicit protections in housing, credit, or public services. The Equality Act, long sought by advocates including the Human Rights Campaign, would amend existing civil rights law to add consistent nationwide protections, but it has not become law.