SEXUAL PREFERENCE AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

HENRY FINDLEY
SEBRENA MOTEN
STEVE GARROTT
EARL INGRAM


DOI: 10.2190/8LUF-57PK-P2V0-JUNR

Abstract

This article addresses the hotly debated topic of sexual preference and the legal rights of gays in employment. We focus on federal and state legislation and policies regarding sexual preference in employment and the related court decisions. Toward the end of the article, we discuss same-sex sexual harassment. Generally, we show that a person's sexual orientation is protected much more strongly in the public sector than in the private sector and that the courts are gradually strengthening the employment rights of people that we commonly call "gay" today, e.g., homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, or transgendered persons. When we later use the term "gay," we will be referring to this broad classification unless we specifically narrow the term to include fewer groups of people.

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