Protecting LGBTQ Workers in a Changing Legal Landscape

Originally held on Monday, June 22, 2020 | 6:00 pm – 7:45 pm

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Program Chair:

Ezra Cukor
Staff Attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights

  • In the fall of 2019 the Supreme Court heard a trio of cases about whether its lawful to fire someone for being LGBTQ. The Court’s decision will have far reaching implications especially for LGBTQ people around the country. For decades, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ) workers and their allies have pressed courts for relief from employment discrimination, resulting in a body of precedent acknowledging that federal protections against sex discrimination prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender status. Moreover, New York state and local law expressly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Coinciding with Pride month, the NYC Bar presents this program which will cover federal, state, and local protections against discrimination for LGBT workers including the implications of the Supreme Court decision in New York and around the country as well as employer best practices.

    Program Fee: Free for Members | $50 for Nonmembers

  • Taylor Brown
    Staff Attorney
    ACLU LGBT & HIV Project

    Demoya Gordon
    Supervising Attorney, Law Enforcement Bureau
    New York City Commission on Human Rights

    Michelle E. Phillips
    Jackson Lewis LLP

    Jillian T. Weiss
    Law Office of Jillian T. Weiss PC
    Special Co-Counsel to Outten & Golden LLP

  • 6:00 pm – 6:25 pm
    Federal Protections Against Discrimination

    • Title VII & Discrimination based on sexual orientation
    • Title VII & Discrimination based on transgender status
    • Other sources of protection (constitutional, federal workers/ contractor protections)

    6:25 pm – 6:50 pm
    LGBT Rights at the Supreme Court

    • EEOC v. RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes, Inc., 884 F3d 560 (6th Cir. 2018), cert granted, 139 S. Ct. 1599 (2019);
    • Bostock v. Clayton Cty. Bd. Of Commissioners, 723 F. App’x 964 (11th Cir 2018) (per curiam), cert granted, 139 Ct. 1599 (2019);
    • Zarda v. Altitude Express, cert granted, 888 F. 3d 100 (2d Cir. 2018) 139 S. Ct. 1599 (2019);

    6:50 pm – 7:30 pm
    NY State and Local Protections

    • NYSHRL (history of positive case law, regulations, GENDA)
    • NYCHRL & regulations
    • What the Supreme Court Cases mean for NY
    • Employer best practices & obligations
      • Health Benefits
      • Non-descrimination
      • Workplace harassment

    7:30 pm – 7:45 pm
    Question / Answer Session

  • New York: 2.0 Professional Practice
    New Jersey: 2.1 General
    California: 1.5 General
    Pennsylvania: 1.5 General
    Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

  • Sponsoring Association Committees:
    Labor & Employment, Katherine A. Greenberg, Chair
    Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights, Noah E. Lewis & Geoffrey L. Wertime, Co-Chairs

    Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
    Angie Avila, Manager, Membership Outreach and Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | aavila@nycbar.org

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