Sexual Orientation / LGBTQ Discrimination

by

On September 26, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit heard oral argument in the case of Zarda v. Altitude Express, Case No. 15-3775. At issue is whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s prohibition of discrimination “because of … sex” extends to sexual orientation. One of the interesting aspects…

Read More Second Circuit Hears Oral Argument in Title VII Sexual Orientation Discrimination Case
Share This:
by

In O’Halloran v. Metropolitan Transp. Auth., 2017 NY Slip Op 06237 (Aug. 22, 2017), the court addressed the following narrow issue on appeal: [W]hether the motion court providently permitted plaintiff to amend her complaint to include belated claims of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation on the ground that those claims related back to the original pleading,…

Read More Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Rendered Timely Under the “Relation Back” Doctrine, CPLR 203(f)
Share This:
by

Here is the United States’ amicus brief in Zarda v. Altitude Express (2d Cir. 15-3775 July 26, 2017), in which the government argues that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 should not be interpreted to cover employment discrimination based on on employee’s sexual orientation. The government argues, inter alia: The question presented is not…

Read More U.S. Government Files Amicus Brief Arguing Against Interpreting Title VII to Cover Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
Share This:
by

In Luka v. Bard College et al, No. 15-cv-4598, 2017 WL 2839641 (S.D.N.Y. June 29, 2017), the court held, inter alia, that plaintiff sufficiently alleged gender discrimination under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). This decision is instructive on how courts apply pleading standards to such claims. The court summarized the law: To…

Read More Lesbian Professor, Denied Tenure, Plausibly Alleges Discrimination Under the NYS Human Rights Law Against Bard College
Share This:
by

From Thygesen v. N. Bailey Volunteer Fire Co., No. 16-00775, 2017 WL 2491451, at *2 (N.Y. App. Div. June 9, 2017): [P]laintiff is not required to prove his claim to defeat summary judgment” (Ferrante, 90 N.Y.2d at 630). Rather, “[t]o defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment in [a sexual orientation] discrimination case, plaintiff[ ]…

Read More Sexual Orientation Employment Discrimination Claim Survives Summary Judgment
Share This:
by

In Zarda v. Altitude Express (2d Cir. No. 15-3775 April 18, 2017), the Second Circuit – in a per curiam opinion issued by a panel comprising Judges Jacobs, Sack, and Lynch – affirmed the summary judgment dismissal of a gay man’s claim that his employer terminated him because of his sexual orientation, in violation of…

Read More 2d Circuit En Banc Panel to Consider Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Under Title VII
Share This:
by

In Philpott v. State of New York, No. 16 CIV. 6778 (AKH), 2017 WL 1750398 (S.D.N.Y. May 3, 2017) (J. Hellerstein), the court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s claims for sexual orientation discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. From the opinion: [P]laintiff has adequately…

Read More Title VII Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim Survives Motion to Dismiss
Share This:
by

In Garvey v. Childtime Learning Ctr., No. 5:16-CV-1073, 2017 WL 1378179 (N.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2017), the Judge McAvoy adopted Magistrate Judge Baxter’s Report and Recommendation that plaintiff’s discrimination claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – based on the failure to hire him due to his perceived sexual orientation – be…

Read More Court Dismisses Gay Plaintiff’s Title VII Discrimination Complaint; Gender Stereotyping Claim Not Plausibly Alleged
Share This:
by

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held, in Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana (No. 15-1720) (April 4, 2017), that discrimination because of sexual orientation is discrimination based on “sex” in violation of Title VII. From the opinion: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it…

Read More 7th Circuit: Sexual Orientation Discrimination is “Sex” Discrimination Under Title VII
Share This:
by

In Christensen v. Omnicom Group Inc., No. 16-748, 2017 WL 1130183 (2d Cir. Mar. 27, 2017), the Second Circuit overturned a lower court decision that dismissed (under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)) the discrimination claim by plaintiff, an openly gay man, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In sum, the Second…

Read More Second Circuit Permits Gay Man’s Title VII Discrimination Case to Proceed on Gender Stereotyping Theory
Share This: