Sexual Orientation Discrimination

No one deserves to undergo unfair discrimination or harassment in the workplace, no matter what kind of discriminatory behavior. You have the right to take legal action if you feel your employer has violated such anti-discrimination laws. The experienced team at Riggan Law Firm, LLC can take on your case and fight for your rights in the workplace.

State Sexual Orientation Anti-Discrimination Laws

Under certain circumstances, the law prevents employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation. On July 9, 2010, Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order protecting public sector employees in Missouri from sexual orientation discrimination.

The order bans sexual orientation discrimination in all employment-related activities, including:

• Layoffs
• Hiring
• Training
• Recruiting
• Promotions
• Benefits
• Transfers
• Termination
• Demotions
• Salary or Wages

Similarly, Illinois law also prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which encompasses:

• actual or perceived heterosexuality,
• homosexuality,
• bisexuality, or
• gender-related identity, whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at birth.

However, note that these state laws only apply to public sector employees. Private sector workers in the state of Missouri are not legally protected from sexual orientation discrimination (with the exception of a few local ordinances that prohibit such discrimination). That being said, there is also no federal law that bans discrimination against gay or lesbian workers in the private industry. So, if you feel you have a case of unfair sexual orientation discrimination, you could argue a case of unfair human rights violations in the broader context of anti-discrimination law rather than in a specific sexual orientation anti-discrimination law. This is where an experienced employment law attorney might come in handy.

Contact Riggan Law Firm, LLC

If you are an employee in Missouri or Illinois who has been wrongly discriminated against due to your sexual orientation, do not hesitate to contact Riggan Law Firm, LLC as soon as possible. The dedicated and trusted staff from the firm can help you fight to ensure that your rights are protected in the workplace.

You should not be unfairly denied a position or harassed and forced to leave because of your sexual orientation, and you deserve to take legal action against your employer for doing so. Although there are few anti-discrimination laws explicitly protecting sexual orientation rights, you nonetheless can bring a case against your employer for discrimination and wrongful treatment. A good attorney can assess the facts of your situation and craft the best case around those circumstances based on the law at hand. You can rest assured that your case will be handled in a competent and efficient manner with the legal professionals at Riggan Law Firm, LLC. If you have questions or concerns regarding your workplace situation, consult a Missouri discrimination lawyer at the firm today.

Speak with an attorney at Riggan Law Firm, LLC for the aggressive representation you deserve. Call (314) 684-8406 or fill out this form to schedule an appointment.