SCOTUS Appears Divided <br />Over LGBTQ Civil Rights Case The U.S. Supreme Court heard <br />arguments in three cases on Tuesday <br />that challenge the wording of <br />Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The federal law bans <br />employment discrimination on the <br />basis of race, religion, sex and national origin. At issue is whether or not the <br />word "sex" in the law should also <br />include sexual orientation and <br />those who are transgender. Currently, it is legal for employers <br />to fire members of the LGBTQ community — <br />based merely on their LGBTQ identification — <br />in more than half of all states. It seemed clear that the <br />four liberal justices are in favor <br />of expanding the meaning of <br />the language of Title VII. Justice Sotomayor, via 'USA Today' In their arguments, <br />the conservative justices <br />seemed opposed to <br />expanding the meaning. Justice Alito, via 'USA Today' President Donald Trump's <br />Supreme Court appointee, Justice <br />Gorsuch, seemed to indicate that he <br />believed the matter was one for Congress. Trump's newest appointee, <br />Justice Kavanaugh, was mostly <br />silent during the arguments. The Trump administration <br />is in favor of no expansion <br />of the meaning of Title VII. Nearly 11 million people living <br />in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ. The Court's decision on the <br />three cases will likely be <br />made public in 2020.
