- The Supreme Court ruled in a landmark decision Monday that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects homosexual and transgender workers from discrimination from their employers.
- Political leaders and other well-known figures from Hillary Clinton to Stephen King tweeted their support for the 6-3 ruling on Monday.
- LGBTQ figures like actor Indya Moore and Apple CEO Tim Cook also celebrated the ruling.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, secretary of state, and presidential candidate tweeted in support of the landmark decision.
Being who you are shouldn’t be a fireable offense, and today the Supreme Court has affirmed that truth for the LGBTQ community under our laws.
It’s a victory for liberty and justice for all.
Happy Pride.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 15, 2020
“Being who you are shouldn’t be a fireable offense, and today the Supreme Court has affirmed that truth for the LGBTQ community under our laws,” she said. “It’s a victory for liberty and justice for all. Happy Pride.”
Tim Cook, who publicly came out as gay in 2014, said he was "grateful" for the decision.
"LGBTQ people deserve equal treatment in the workplace and throughout society, and today's decision further underlines that federal law protects their right to fairness," Cook, who has served as Apple CEO since 2011, wrote.
Grateful for today’s decision by the Supreme Court. LGBTQ people deserve equal treatment in the workplace and throughout society, and today’s decision further underlines that federal law protects their right to fairness.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 15, 2020
Stacey Abrams, who most notably ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Georgia governorship, called the ruling "good news."
"Based in part on a Georgia case, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act covers the #LGBTQ community. Identity matters. Politics matter. Voting matters. A law made real by protest in 1964 protects folks in 2020," Abrams said.
Good news: Based in part on a Georgia case, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act covers the #LGBTQ community.
Identity matters. Politics matter. Voting matters. A law made real by protest in 1964 protects folks in 2020. https://t.co/9jI9R5I4dX
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) June 15, 2020
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, said it was now time for the "hard work of turning these legal protections into a reality."
The U.S. Supreme Court got it right today prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace. Now comes the hard work of turning these legal protections into a reality of equality. - RC
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) June 15, 2020
"The U.S. Supreme Court got it right today prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace," Cooper said.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar called the decision a "monumental step in the march towards LGBTQ+ equality."
This is a monumental step in the march towards LGBTQ+ equality, but the fight is not over. We need to ensure the LGBTQ+ community is equally protected in every way—we must also pass the Equality Act.🏳️🌈https://t.co/3gTaAySO8e
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 15, 2020
She also called for more work ahead, like passing the Equality Act in Congress, which would specifically "prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes."
Author Stephen King said the decision in the Bostock ruling was a "great win" for LGBTQ Americans.
Great win for the LGBT community in the Supreme Court. Be aware that Susan Collins fave Brett Kavanaugh voted agains.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 15, 2020
"Be aware that Susan Collins fave Brett Kavanaugh voted against," he tweeted. Trump-appointed Brett Kavanaugh joined conservative Justices, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito in voting against the Monday decision.
Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch and John Roberts sided with the court's four liberal voices, and Gorsuch wrote the opinion for the majority.
"Pose" actor and model Indya Moore, who is transgender, celebrated the SCOTUS ruling.
https://twitter.com/IndyaMoore/status/1272550246216859648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
"CAN I GET A-PERIOD???!!!!," Moore tweeted.
California Sen. Kamala Harris called the ruling a "major victory for LGBTQ+ rights."
http://instagr.am/p/CBdX9tHjJei
"No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love," Harris, whom Biden is considering to serve as his running mate, said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said "the fight for true equality continues."
You should never have to fear losing your job simply because of who you are or who you love.
To see that righted today is an extraordinary thing. The fight for true equality continues. https://t.co/XViX6TXhB3
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 15, 2020
"You should never have to fear losing your job simply because of who you are or who you love. To see that righted today is an extraordinary thing," Newsom, a Democrat, tweeted.
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown called the ruling "another hard fought victory" for LGBTQ Americans.
Five years after the #SCOTUS ruling that guaranteed marriage equality, another hard fought victory in our ongoing fight for justice for LGBTQ Americans.
Happy Pride Month.https://t.co/2DkTvcHFnN
— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) June 15, 2020
"Five years after the #SCOTUS ruling that guaranteed marriage equality, another hard fought victory in our ongoing fight for justice for LGBTQ Americans. Happy Pride Month," Brown, a Democrat, tweeted.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, celebrated the ruling but called for the passage of a federal equality act.
"It was only 11 years ago this summer that I took an oath and accepted a job that I would have lost, if my chain of command learned that I was gay. Firing us wasn't just permitted-it was policy," he said.
As of sunup this morning, many parts of America did not fully protect queer Americans from workplace discrimination, despite the Civil Rights Act. This is a major step.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) June 15, 2020
He added: "The struggle for equality did not end with marriage, nor did it end today. Conversion therapy persists. Black trans women are at grave risk daily. The administration is rolling back protections at every turn."
Former Vice President Joe Biden — the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president — said the "Supreme Court has confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect."
Today's decision is another step in our march toward equality for all. The Supreme Court has confirmed the simple but profoundly American idea that every human being should be treated with respect. But we're not done. https://t.co/Bz4SMA9tgb
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 15, 2020
"Today's decision is another step in our march toward equality for all," Biden wrote.
Pop star Taylor Swift called it a "beautiful step forward."
YES!! Thank you to the Supreme Court Justices who voted in favor and all the advocates who have fought so hard for this! We still have a long way to go to reach equality, but this is a beautiful step forward. 🌈❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🌈 https://t.co/zTd3i5P2TL
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 15, 2020
"Thank you to the Supreme Court Justices who voted in favor and all the advocates who have fought so hard for this!" she tweeted.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he was "grateful to see this progress and good news."
"The LGBTQ+ community deserves fair and equal treatment just like everyone else, and I'm glad our highest court has affirmed those rights," he wrote.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the ruling "affirms that all Americans, regardless of who you are or whom you love, are protected from discrimination in the workplace under federal law."
Today’s momentous Supreme Court ruling affirms that all Americans, regardless of who you are or whom you love, are protected from discrimination in the workplace under federal law. Thank you to all whose activism & courage made this victory possible. https://t.co/muOYbHpJNg
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 15, 2020
In a separate tweet, the House Speaker also criticized the Trump adminstration for advancing "a hateful anti-LGBTQ agenda that threatens the health & well-being of countless LGBTQ Americans and their families," and called on the Senate the pass the Equality Act.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans is "morally unconscionable."
Discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans in the workplace is not only morally unconscionable, but now it's against the law.
Today's ruling from the Supreme Court is a huge and historic victory in the struggle for true equality. https://t.co/JB6aFD64Za
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) June 15, 2020
"Discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans in the workplace is not only morally unconscionable, but now it's against the law. Today's ruling from the Supreme Court is a huge and historic victory in the struggle for true equality," he tweeted.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said she was "very glad" to hear about the Supreme Court ruling and that "nobody should face discrimination at work – or anywhere – for who they are or who they love."
I’m very glad that the Supreme Court reaffirmed that federal anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ+ workers. I joined @SenJeffMerkley & others on an amicus brief for this case last year. Nobody should face discrimination at work – or anywhere – for who they are or who they love.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) June 15, 2020
"I joined @SenJeffMerkley & others on an amicus brief for this case last year. Nobody should face discrimination at work - or anywhere - for who they are or who they love," she said.
Bette Midler, a singer, songwriter, and actress, tweeted "Hooray!" in response to the landmark ruling, and called out the justices who sided against the case.
Hooray! The Supreme Court just issued a landmark ruling saying that Federal law protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination. The vote was 6 humans to 3 backward-looking nincompoops.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) June 15, 2020
"The vote was 6 humans to 3 backward-looking nincompoops," she said.
Actress Viola Davis tweeted that she will be celebrating with the LBTQ community today.
To the LGBTQ community.... I celebrate with you today 🏳️🌈🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿🤜🏿❤❤❤❤ https://t.co/4G10SeQQ2j
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) June 15, 2020
"To the LGBTQ community.... I celebrate with you today!" she tweeted with an array of emojis.
Actor and director Rob Reiner, who helped fight for LGBTQ equality in California for years, called the decision a "huge ruling," and tweeted that "we are all one."
Huge ruling from SCOTUS for gay rights! For civil rights. For Democracy. We are all one.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) June 15, 2020
"Huge ruling from SCOTUS for gay rights! For civil rights. For Democracy. We are all one," he said.