Reform Jewish Movement Applauds Supreme Court Victory Protecting LGBTQ Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2020

Reform Jewish Movement Applauds Supreme Court Victory Protecting LGBTQ Workers

WASHINGTON – In response to the Supreme Court’s rulings in Bostock v. Clayton County, GA affirming anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ workers, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement institutions:

“We celebrate the Supreme Court’s historic decision protecting the LGBTQ community from workplace discrimination. By ruling that Title VII prohibits sex discrimination including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Court has affirmed the right of all Americans to work free from the threat of these types of prejudice. Even as the Trump administration took steps over the weekend to harm LGBTQ people by rolling back civil rights protections in the ACA, today’s Supreme Court decision makes clear that those who promote or allow such discrimination are on the wrong side of history.

“Judaism teaches that we are all made in the image of the Divine, deserving of dignity and just treatment. It is our responsibility to ensure that we live up to that ideal. The US government has previously failed to adequately protect vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community. We are hopeful that this landmark decision represents a new chapter of tolerance, acceptance, and justice. 

“The Reform Jewish movement will continue to fight against discrimination. We call on Congress to build on the progress of the Court’s decision by passing the Equality Act, fully protecting the LGBTQ community in federal civil rights law.”

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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 850 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.RAC.org for more.