Newport Beach Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawyers
California has long protected employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Whether you are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or any other orientation, you cannot be denied employment or otherwise discriminated against at work on the basis of your sexual orientation. If you were not hired or if you were fired, demoted, refused a raise, transferred, reassigned or otherwise discriminated against at work, or if you have been harassed or subjected to a hostile work environment because of your sexual orientation, The Garza Firm can help. Our attorneys have over 60 years of combined legal experience and a firm dedication to fighting for the rights of California workers to receive fair treatment. Contact our experienced Newport Beach sexual orientation discrimination lawyers today.
California and Federal Law Both Prohibit Sexual Orientation Discrimination at Work
California’s major pieces of civil rights legislation, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation since 2000 and 2005, respectively. Even before these laws were specifically amended to include sexual orientation in the list of protected characteristics, California courts recognized this right to legal protection as far back as 1982.
California prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations, meaning any places that are open to the public such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, museums, libraries, doctor’s offices, etc. The employment provisions of FEHA prohibit discrimination in every phase of employment, from interviews, screening and hiring, to employment decisions such as pay and assignment, all the way through job retention or termination.
At the federal level, the U.S. Supreme Court held in 2020 that the nation’s main employment discrimination law, Title VII, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII by its express terms prohibits discrimination in employment based on sex, and the Court in Bostock v. Clayton County held “it is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.”
Members of Congress have also repeatedly tried to pass the Equality Act, a bill that would outlaw sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. The latest version of this bill has passed the House of Representatives, but the Senate has yet to act on it. Even without the Equality Act, the Supreme Court’s ruling firmly applies Title VII’s employment provisions to sexual orientation discrimination.
California’s FEHA already offers the broad protections of the Equality Act at the state level, and FEHA applies to employers with as few as five employees, compared to Title VII which only kicks in for employers with 15 or more employees. An employment discrimination attorney at The Garza Firm can counsel you on whether your case is better served in state or federal court and proceed accordingly.
We Seek Justice, Accountability, and Compensation for Victims of Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Newport Beach
Like you, we know that sexual orientation discrimination is just plain wrong, and we intend to do something about it. Our law firm is devoted to representing California workers who have been harmed by invidious discrimination based on prejudice, bigotry and ignorance. We fight to hold employers responsible for the discrimination they practiced or allowed to go unchecked, ensuring they are accountable to the workers they’ve harmed for the full amount of damage they’ve caused. Whether filing claims with government agencies like California’s DFEH or the EEOC, or pursuing justice in state or federal courts, we seek maximum accountability and compensation for our clients. Our firm’s record of significant victories demonstrates our commitment and ability to get great results.
Remedies for sexual orientation discrimination can include:
- Job placement
- Reinstatement
- Reassignment
- Back pay and benefits
- Front pay
- Out-of-pocket costs such as job searches or medical expenses
- Mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
Contact The Garza Firm Today
You should never have to hide who you are or be treated like a second-class citizen just because you don’t conform to the same sexual orientation as your employer, co-workers or customer base. The Garza Firm helps job applicants and employees in Southern California end illegal discrimination in the workplace while obtaining justice and compensation for the harm done to them. Contact our experienced Newport Beach sexual orientation discrimination lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your potential claims.
