HISTORIC

Court: Civil Rights Act Protects Orientation

Appeals panel says protected from workplace discrimination.

A federal appeals court in Chicago ruled Tuesday that the 1964 Civil Rights Act also protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination. This marks the first time that a federal appellate court has come to this conclusion. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago came down with this ruling just three weeks after a three-judge panel in Alabama ruled that employers aren’t prohibited from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The case stems from a lawsuit involving Indiana teacher Kimberly Hively, who alleged that Ivy Tech Community College didn’t hire her full-time because she is a lesbian. The issue could still go to the Supreme Court at some point in the future.