Attorney General Jeff Sessions said transgender people are not protected from employment discrimination through Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in a memorandum obtained by Buzzfeed. This withdraws an Obama-era memorandum that interpreted the law to encompass gender identity in its definition of sex.
California’s transgender population will remain protected against workplace discrimination through state law, but nationally employees without a shield through state or local law will no longer be protected from discrimination based on their gender identity.
Sessions’ memo said: "Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including transgender status.”
The memo, issued Wednesday, also states the Justice Department will “continue to affirm the dignity of all people, including transgender individuals.”
In reaction, the Oakland-based Transgender Law Center issued a statement: