The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has confirmed that a precedent established in 1979 ruling that federal civil rights law does not cover gay workers also applies to transgender people. It followed a lower court incorrectly stating the higher court had not ruled on transgender workers’ coverage while hearing a discrimination lawsuit filed by a job applicant against Blum. The case was thrown out regardless because no evidence was found that gender or appearance influenced the company’s hiring decision. The Fifth Circuit said its ruling 40 years ago remains binding in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has confirmed that a precedent established in 1979 ruling that federal civil rights law does not cover gay workers also applies to transgender people. It followed a lower court incorrectly stating the higher court had not ruled on transgender workers’ coverage while hearing a discrimination lawsuit filed by a job applicant against Phillips 66. The case was thrown out regardless because no evidence was found that gender or appearance influenced the company’s hiring decision. The Fifth Circuit said its ruling 40 years ago remains binding in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.