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Syllabus

NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is
being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued.
The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been
prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader.
See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337.
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

Syllabus
BOSTOCK v. CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 17–1618. Argued October 8, 2019—Decided June 15, 2020*
In each of these cases, an employer allegedly fired a long-time employee
simply for being homosexual or transgender. Clayton County, Geor-
gia, fired Gerald Bostock for conduct “unbecoming” a county employee
shortly after he began participating in a gay recreational softball
league. Altitude Express fired Donald Zarda days after he mentioned
being gay. And R. G. & G. R. Harris Funeral Homes fired Aimee Ste-
phens, who presented as a male when she was hired, after she in-
formed her employer that she planned to “live and work full-time as a
woman.” Each employee sued, alleging sex discrimination under Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Eleventh Circuit held that
Title VII does not prohibit employers from firing employees for being
gay and so Mr. Bostock’s suit could be dismissed as a matter of law.
The Second and Sixth Circuits, however, allowed the claims of Mr.
Zarda and Ms. Stephens, respectively, to proceed.
Held: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or
transgender violates Title VII. Pp. 4–33.
(a) Title VII makes it “unlawful . . . for an employer to fail or refuse
to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate
against any individual . . . because of such individual’s race, color, re-
ligion, sex, or national origin.” 42 U. S. C. §2000e–2(a)(1). The
straightforward application of Title VII’s terms interpreted in accord
——————
* Together with No. 17–1623, Altitude Express, Inc., et al. v. Zarda
et al., as Co-Independent Executors of the Estate of Zarda, on certiorari
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and No. 18–
107, R. G. & G. R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v. Equal Employment Op-
portunity Commission et al., on certiorari to the United States Court of
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.