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New House of Representatives rules ban LGBTQ discrimination

On Behalf of | Jan 9, 2019 | LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination

Florida residents may be interested in news from the U.S. House of Representatives about LGBTQ rights. The House passed a set of rules during the first meeting of the 116th Congress on Jan. 3, including a rule that bans discrimination against LGBTQ job seekers and staff members.

The rules package will govern the House for the next two years. Three changes that distinguish the new rules package are the ban on LGBTQ discrimination, a ban on members severing on corporate boards and a requirement that members take yearly ethics training. The rules package was promoted by Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I. Cicilline is one of eight openly LGBTQ members of the House. In a statement he said that protecting the rights of LGBTQ employees is ‘the right thing to do”.

A representative of the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ rights groups, called the passage of the LGBTQ discrimination rule a historic moment. He gave credit for the rule’s creation and passage to voters in last November’s election.

Federal law does not explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Some federal courts have ruled that these types of discrimination are prohibited under the sex discrimination ban of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. But the Human Rights Campaign says that half of LGBTQ Americans live in states without clear protections. Many LGBTQ rights advocates say the question of protection against discrimination under the Civil Rights Act could reach the Supreme Court soon.

LGBTQ employment discrimination is specifically barred by many state and county laws across the country. People in Boca Raton, Florida, who have been a victim of such behavior might want to discuss their options with an attorney who has experience with these types of matters.