Christian Employers Can Now Discriminate Against Trans People
A settlement with the Christian Employers Alliance blocks the EEOC from ever investigating the group’s members for gender identity discrimination. The post Christian Employers Can Now Discriminate Against Trans People appeared first on The Intercept .
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has reached a historic settlement with the Christian Employers Alliance, a conservative Christian employer association. The agreement, signed on August 18, ensures that the EEOC will not investigate any claims of gender identity discrimination against members of the Christian Employers Alliance, both current and future, for an indefinite period.
This groundbreaking deal, which applies to over 20,000 existing alliance members and any future members, effectively bars the EEOC from examining potential gender identity discrimination claims. The settlement marks the first time the EEOC has granted such a broad exemption from investigating claims, with no expiration date in sight.
Karla Gilbride, a former EEOC general counsel and now at the American Civil Liberties Union, expressed astonishment at the unique nature of the settlement, stating that she has never seen a similar pledge from the EEOC. She described the agreement as akin to an "insurance policy" against EEOC investigations, which could create an incentive for employers, particularly those aligned with conservative religious views, to discriminate against transgender individuals.
The Christian Employers Alliance, which has partnered with the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, pushed for this settlement as part of its EEOC lawsuit. The alliance's website boasts that "Join CEA and stop being exposed," implying that membership provides protection against gender identity discrimination. This blanket protection for members stands in stark contrast to the EEOC's usual procedures, where religious employers must undergo established processes to raise religious defenses against discrimination claims.
The settlement aligns with the Christian Employers Alliance's objectives and is closely tied to the EEOC's recent shift in policy under Chair Andrea Lucas, who has been actively pursuing a narrower interpretation of trans rights. The alliance's efforts to protect its members from gender identity discrimination echo the group's original demands in its lawsuit against the EEOC.
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