DGA Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision Banning Employment Discrimination Against LGBTQ Workers

DGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from employment discrimination.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a major victory in our fight to ensure our nation more closely aligns with our ideals of justice and equality. No matter who you are or who you love, you should never fear workplace discrimination. Democratic governors from coast to coast are fighting every day to protect Americans’ civil rights and have been the strongest line of defense against a harmful federal agenda. We will continue to fight for full equality for the LGBTQ community.”
Democratic governors across the country are advocating for justice and equality for the LGBTQ community. Nine states led by Democratic governors have banned gay and transgender ‘panic defenses,’ a legal strategy that allows a jury to blame a victim’s gender or sexual orientation for a defendant’s violent reaction. This is just one example of how Democratic governors are protecting Americans’ civil rights, while the federal government tries to dismantle them.
Read more about some of the work Democratic governors have done to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community:

• Rewire.News: These Six Newly Elected Democratic Governors Are Already Moving to Enact Their Agenda
• CBS Sacramento: California Junior High And High School Teachers Will Be Offered LGTBQ Training Under New Law
• Newsweek: Colorado’s Openly Gay Governor Signs Historic LGBTQ Protections Into Law
• WSHU: Lamont Signs 3 Laws Supporting LGBTQ Community
• The Hill: Delaware bans gay conversion therapy
• Hawaii Tribune Herald: New state law allows third gender designation on driver’s licences, IDs
• USA Today: Illinois governor JB Pritzker signs executive order to protect trans students
• The Wichita Eagle: Kelly reinstates protections for LGBT state workers in Kansas eliminated by Brownback
• Louisville Courier Journal: Gov. Andy Beshear advocates for LGBTQ-rights bill, against ‘conversion therapy’
• The Advocate: John Bel Edwards signs executive order barring LGBT discrimination in state government
• Washington Blade: Maine becomes 17th state to ban ‘ex-gay’ therapy for youth
• Detroit Free Press: Whitmer signs directive strengthening protections for LGBTQ community
• CBS Minnesota: LGBTQ Activists, Gov. Walz Demand ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban
• Associated Press: Gov. Bullock expands discrimination ban
• Associated Press: North Carolina governor moves to block conversion therapy funds
• NBC News: N.J. bans gay and transgender ‘panic defenses’
• KRQE: New Mexico to allow gender-neutral sex designation on birth certificates
• WABC: Governor Cuomo signs legislation banning ‘gay and trans panic’ legal defense
• Nevada Current: Nevada bans trans, gay panic defense
• NBC News: Oregon Governor Signs Transgender Equity Bill Into Law
• Penn Live: ‘This is the right thing for us to do’: Gov. Tom Wolf signs LGBT anti-discrimination protections
• NBC News: Rhode Island governor signs bill to help gay veterans get benefits
• WRIC: Gov. Northam signs Virginia Values Act, providing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people
• Seattle Times: Washington governor signs ban on sexual-orientation conversion therapy
• The Capital Times: Tony Evers focuses on LGBTQ inclusion on first day in office