After many separate cases were presented of workers among the LGBTQIA+ community who had been fired out of what they claimed to be sex discrimination, the Supreme Court ruled on June 15, 2020 that under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, gay and transgender people were protected from said discrimination and could not be fired from their places of work as a result of making their identity known. This event was a major contribution to the often overlooked positives that occurred throughout last year.

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch and Chief Justice John Roberts in a 6-3 majority as sex discrimination, matters of sexual orientation, and other conflicts revolving around the LGBTQIA+ community were acknowledged throughout 186 pages; ultimately, it was declared that people of this community could not be fired from a workplace solely for being gay, transgender, etcetera.

This decision was an enormous victory for the millions of people living in the United States who identify with the community. According to The New York Times in an article covering the Supreme Court ruling, up until the decision was made, firing a worker due to their gay, bisexual, or transgender identity was legal in more than half of the states. In the article, writer Adam Liptak said, “The vastly consequential decision thus extended workplace protections to millions of people across the nation, continuing a series of Supreme Court victories for gay rights even after President Trump transformed the court with his two appointments.”

With the feelings of stress and anxiety many people are actively dealing with due to the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, the majority struggle to look back on the previous year with fondness or with a positive thought in mind. However, the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision along with other 2020 victories in the LGBTQIA+ community has marked a milestone for a great amount of people demanding equal rights in the Pride movement. Thus, those who stand with the movement have been encouraged to continue pushing onward and fighting sex discrimination in every possible way.