Chicago, Ill., Apr 5, 2017 / 23:08 pm
Both employers and employees who believe marriage is an institution between a man and a woman could be affected by a federal appeals court ruling that sexual orientation is protected by federal civil rights legislation barring discrimination on the basis of sex.
"There is a concern that if an employer simply expresses its belief that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, an employee might complain that the employer created a 'hostile work environment' that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation," Jim Campbell, senior counsel for the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, told CNA April 5. "This risk poses concerns for religious employers."
Expressing religious views against or in favor of some forms of behavior could come to be treated as illegal discrimination in the workplace.
"Someone might argue that a religious employee who simply expresses her view that marriage is the union of a man and a woman creates a 'hostile work environment' based on sexual orientation," Campbell said.