What is the significance of US supreme court judgement for LGBTQ workers?

In America an employer cannot fire a homosexual or transgender employee anymore as US supreme court ruled that a landmark 1964 civil rights law protects gay and transgender workers from discrimination. It is seen as a historic victory for the LGBTQ+ community. 

The  case concerned of Title VII of the civil rights act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, national origin and sex, also covers the LGBTQ+ workers. The judgement was a six-three verdict is the biggest judgement in favour of the LGBTQ community since marriage equality in 2015. It is seen as another brave step towards legitimizing and recognizing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in US. Finally the year 2020 brought something to cheer about before we had designated 2020 as the worst year ever. Hopefully other nations can take a cue and pass similar laws to promote equality and eradicate discrimination. This is a way forward into creating a Utopia of equality and inclusion.

The judgement could not have come at a better time. June is officially the LGBTQ pride month in US and people are in a celebratory mood. This of course comes in the backdrop of massive protests after the racist killing of George Floyd, who was choked to death by a white policeman. American people have called out that discrimination in any form is not welcome in their society. This is a progressive step and should be lauded. Only a country as free and democratic as USA could have taken a lead on this.

The discrimination on the workplace due to sexual orientation or sexual preferences highlight the fact that even though it is a law and people are now protected against it, it is incumbent upon the employer to create that kind of atmosphere where workers don't feel such discriminate practices. Frankly it's all in the mind, very much like people know it's harmful but they smoke. So even though this act has been recognized in the judgement, it depends on the employers how they perceive this whole situation and wants to implement fundamental changes in the way they or their fellow workers perceive this issue. At the end of the day, a law can only act as a deterrent but cannot eradicate a problem.

This is just a conundrum between who you really are as a person and what the society expects you to be. Your reality is somehow unacceptable to the idea of a social balance, others might think right. Your reality does not fit into their idea of a perfect society. Well, the best part is now their idea of the perfect society, if faced with your reality can not result in your termination. Hopefully this sparks a debate among the harbingers of such a Utopian idea that excludes gay and transgenders or wants them to not accept their reality and face the world with the truth.

As a society, we have already starting understanding and conning to identify the benefits of a diverse workforce. There is ample evidence backing this study. Some of the world's biggest and most successful companies are hugely diverse. We need to consider this episode as an extension to this inclusion towards diversity in workplace and start with the idea that it is going to bring a positive change and this needs immediate acceptance, not just at a legal level but on a social level as well. This acceptance not only gives the LGBTQ+ community the luxury to free their minds of unnecessary taboo but also greatly incentives them to contribute to nation building.

The Neo-Nazi mentality which is medieval in many ways, would always come to resist such changes. They believe in the idea of racial and physical purity and their belief would not allow them to accept this law in practice, even at the cost of imprisonment. Therefore, it becomes really important that leaders from all ideologies must come together to talk about the importance of this legislation and convince their followers and the people they represent to wholeheartedly accept it and practice it in letter and spirit. As a society we need to come together and make sure this supreme court judgement is welcome and resonates in society. The impetus for leaders and organizations to cultivate work settings that recognize and harness the power of difference has never been more profound.

On a legal and administrative level this change would mean organizations revisiting their employee policy documents and harassment policy documents and amend those to reflect the recent changes. But on a broader level this will bring upon open spaces for people to talk about such things and seek help, in case somebody's employer fell short of appropriate behaviour. They can also reach out to their local human rights commission or state commissions in case their employer continues with their untoward behaviour.

Conclusion:

The supreme court broadening the 1964 civil rights law is a revolutionary step towards the inclusion of LGBTQ+ community workers in the broader workforce rights. This gives the community the freedom to coming to work and feel comfortable with their reality. The society must come forward and accepts this broadening of the civil rights law in good spirits and understand its long-term positive implications. Leaders from all ideologies and spectrum must come on the same platform to appreciate this inclusion and communicate to their followers the importance of cultivating work settings that recognize and harness the power of difference.