By a vote of 6-3, the US Supreme Court Ruled that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

This is consequential because in many states (including neighboring Pennsylvania) you can lose you job for being gay LGBTQ.

Brian McGinnis is a long time LGBTQ activist and an employment lawyer at Fox Rothchild LLP.

“Today, the Court decided that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Ms McGinnis told InsiderNJ. “In one sense, it’s a routine and obvious application of the law’s plain text. Even so, it’s a monumental victory for LGBTQ people and their loved ones, in a time when so many reject the notion of our humanity and existence.”

Justices appointed by President Donald Trump were split on the issue. Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, who aligned with Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s four liberals, wrote the majority opinion.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined fellow Justices Samuel Alito (of New Jersey) and Clarence Thomas in the dissent. Time to kill? Check out Justice Alito’s embittered dissent here.

“If applying the law’s clear text was the only consideration, this result is not a surprise,” Mr McGinnis added. “But it’s surprising in this political moment given some other decisions of this court.”