Santa Barbara LGBTQ community pleased with Supreme Court ruling on job discrimination

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The US Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends protection to members of the LGBTQ Plus community when it comes to job discrimination.

Title VII specifically prohibits discrimination by employers based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.

The LGBTQ Plus community said this Supreme Court ruling is a welcome one during Pride month.

Although Californians and half the states already had laws protecting against LGBTQ discrimination, this decision provides Federal protections in addition to state protection.

"It is great to have this ruling from this conservative Supreme Court including this conservative judge appointed by Trump. Now LGBT Americans no longer have to worry about discrimination in the workplace because of who they are," said Greg Gandrud, Treasurer of the California Republican Party.

Pacific Pride Foundation program manager Patrick -Lyra Lanier called it a first step.

"Pacific Pride Foundation is delighted with the the Supreme Court ruling today. It is especially nice during June, which is Pride Month, to celebrate a victory for economic and social justice as a whole. There is already more to do, but we should take time today to appreciate this historic and desperately needed step."

Licensed marriage and family therapist Solomon Ndung'u of Santa Barbara called it a great day.

"It is truly a great day to know that being gay or lesbian or transgender does not qualify as a fireable offense anywhere in the land. So today we celebrate that one of the mental anguishes many in our community face has now been taken away," said Ndung'u.

The ruling stems from the firings of a gay child welfare worker in Georgia, a skydiving instructor in New York, who died in a base jumping accident, and a transgender funeral director in Michigan.

Local Republican Party treasurer Gregg Gandrud shared his personal opinion- noting the importance of Justice Neil Gorsuch writing the majority opinion.

"It is great to have this ruling from this conservative Supreme Court including this conservative judge appointed by Trump. Now LGBT Americans no longer have to worry about discrimination in the workplace because of who they are," said Gandrud.

The dissents came from Justices Kavanaugh and Alito.

The ruling did not deal with bathroom use that may be addressed in future cases.

The Pacific Pride Foundation office will be celebrating the landmark decision with events moved online due to the COVID19 pandemic.

On Tuesday the nonprofit will kick off its Youth Summer Program at 4:30 p.m. on Zoom with trans writer Kate Bornstein. The program is a collaboration with the Santa Barbara Public Library.

For more information visit pacificpridefoundation.org.