In a 6-3 decision released on Monday morning, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a ruling that could have far-sweeping implications for religious liberty.
“An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion.
“Today’s ruling will have severe consequences for the privacy, safety, and equality of all Americans,” said Ryan Anderson, a senior fellow with The Heritage Foundation. “The Court has rewritten our civil rights laws in a way that will undermine protections and equal rights of women and girls.”
Predictably, those on the left lined up to applaud the decision as a sweeping victory for the gay and transgender movement.
Also among those cheerleading? The head of a tech group that recently received a $295 million, 27-month agreement to implement coronavirus contact tracing in Texas.
In a post on Facebook, Das Nobel, the CEO of New York-based MTX Group, celebrated the ruling, saying, “Congratulations LGBTQ friends on this historic day. Well done Supreme Court.”
The post was also accompanied by a rainbow version of the company’s logo.
The Texas Legislature has rejected efforts in the past to create a protected class of individuals based on their sexual behavior. The Republican Party of Texas’ platform is also clearly opposed to such legislation.
“We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin, and we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values,” reads plank #256 of the current Texas GOP platform.
MTX Group’s position puts them squarely at odds with the party that controls the state legislature, as well as all statewide elected positions, including Gov. Greg Abbott.
The nearly $300 million contract has already come under fire from some lawmakers and Texans over how the agreement was reached, its cost and duration, lack of legislative oversight, potential medical privacy violations, and other concerns.
Tell Gov. Abbott: End the Texas Contact Tracing Agreement!
