Civil and Human Rights Coalition Condemns Sessions' Justice Department Course Alteration on LGBT Rights

WASHINGTON - July 26, 2017 - Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement following the filing of an amicus brief today by the Sessions Justice Department arguing that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation:

"In the second Trump administration attack on LGBT rights today, the Sessions Justice Department filed a legal brief arguing that our landmark federal employment discrimination law, Title VII, does not protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Trump administration's court filing contravenes recent court decisions and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that recognizes such protection. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights proudly stands with LGBT Americans and their allies who seek relief from discrimination in our judicial system."

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.