On June 15th, 2020 the Supreme Court released a ruling in its landmark LGBTQ Labor Rights, barring discrimination against those for their sexual orientation, as it is discrimination on the “basis of sex”. This provides clarity from lower court rulings, and their interpretations of Title XII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Laura Noble takes a few minutes to discuss what this means for North Carolina with ABC11.
Transcript: ABC 11 News, June 15
Tonight, a landmark ruling protecting LGBTQ people from job discrimination. The Supreme Court finding the Civil Rights Act covers gay and transgender workers, the action to have a major impact for an estimated 8.1 million people in the US. New at five, Tim Pulliam getting reaction from a Triangle attorney about what that means moving forward.
Tim: Today’s Supreme Court ruling makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone in the workplace based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Advocates and employment attorneys say that this is a landmark decision for the LGBTQ+ community.
Laura: We’re talking about people losing their jobs, not, you know, not being able to feed their family. This is a very significant injury to people when this happens to them in the workplace, and I want North Carolina to be on the books saying we don’t tolerate this.
Tim: Laura Noble with The Noble Law Firm in Chapel Hill says today is definitely a victory for her clients who’ve uphill battles, fighting discrimination suits based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. North Carolina is not one of the 22 states across the country with state laws specifying protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Tonight Equality North Carolina releasing a statement that reads in part, “LGBTQ people face harassment and mistreatment in their daily lives, and black and brown LGBTQ trans people face even higher rates of discrimination, and, oftentimes, violence.” House Bill 142 still prohibits trans people from using public restrooms in state government buildings and facilities except for those controlled by Governor Cooper. The state’s republican-led legislature has also banned local municipalities from drafting their own employment protections, but this ruling gives the LGBTQ community those protections under federal law.
About The Noble Law Firm
The Noble Law is a women-owned employment law firm with offices in North Carolina and South Carolina, founded by Laura Noble in 2009. Specializing in wrongful termination, workplace harassment, workplace retaliation, workplace mediation, and neutral third-party investigations, the firm is committed to leveling the playing field for employees. Their focus is on delivering positive outcomes with empathy and integrity, while also driving societal change in employment law.
The firm emphasizes diversity, collaboration, and innovation, fostering a balanced work environment that values the personal lives of its staff. With a strong commitment to technology and efficiency, The Noble Law provides personalized attention to a select group of clients, handling cases involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and more. The team’s extensive litigation experience allows them to deliver thorough and assertive representation.
