U.S. civil rights law protects LGBT workers from workplace bias: appeals court

NEW YORK (Reuters) - For the first time, a U.S. appeals court on Monday ruled that federal civil rights law protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees from workplace discrimination.

The ruling from a divided 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago represents a major legal victory for the gay rights movement.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Sandra Maler)