Your rights



Employers with 15 or more employees are prohibited by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act from discriminating on the basis of sex. Some courts have ruled that Title VII also bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Supreme Court recently announced it will take up this question in three cases. In addition, many states and cities have laws that ban this kind of discrimination.

If you believe that your rights have been violated



If you feel that you have experienced discrimination at work, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which has taken the position that LGBTQ people are protected under Title VII. But it’s possible that the EEOC may change its position on this question during the Trump administration.

We encourage you to contact your local ACLU affiliate or the national ACLU LGBT Project for help weighing your options.

Additional resources



If you’ve been discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity, the ACLU may be able to help. Contact us by filling out an intake form.