In a Huge Win for Civil Rights, the Supreme Court Says LGBTQ+ Workers Are Protected Under Law

The United States Supreme Court ruled on Monday, June 15, that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does in fact make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal. This is a major victory for LGBTQ+ rights, and it comes in the middle of Pride Month. And yes, this ruling also covers transgender workers.

The vote of 6–3 may be surprising to some, given the current makeup of the court. Conservative justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the more liberal members of the court: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer. The Supreme Court upheld rulings by lower courts which had held that sexual orientation discrimination was a form of sex discrimination.

“The ordinary meaning of ‘sex’ is biologically male or female; it does not include sexual orientation,” the Justice Department had argued, per NBC News. “An employer who discriminates against employees in same-sex relationships does not violate Title VII as long as it treats men in same-sex relationships the same as women in same-sex relationships.” Not so fast, said the court.

According to NBC News, 21 states have laws “prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity” and seven others offer that same protection but only to public employees. Now gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer workers will be protected by federal law. This is also viewed as a blow to the Trump administration, which had asked the court to rule differently.

There were strong reactions across Twitter once the court’s decision came down.

This post may be updated as new information emerges.

Originally Appeared on Glamour