Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga.

In a 6 to 3 ruling on Monday, June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court decided that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “because of sex,” includes LGBTQ employees. Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP Partner Tom Mew represented Gerald Bostock, petitioner in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., and led the charge to secure this historic civil rights victory, which now ensures federal, uniform protection for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees from employment discrimination. The decision is a landmark for LGBTQ rights and human rights in the United States.

“There are no words to fully express Gerald Bostock’s sincere gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision in his case. In a moment when so many are hurting and reeling from the injustices of inequality, this is a positive step in the right direction for equal rights,” said Mew at the time.

With Gerald’s case reversed and remanded back to the lower courts, Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP continued to pursue his case in Georgia, and were ultimately able to secure a favorable settlement. If you are an LGBTQ individual with employment law concerns, please call 404-781-1101 to connect with our leading employment attorneys.

About Gerald

Gerald was an award-winning child welfare services coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocates, or “CASA” program in Clayton County, Georgia where he was able to take the program to unprecedented levels of success.

He was proudly making a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children in his community. But all that changed when the County learned Gerald was gay and had been encouraging friends in his gay softball league to volunteer for CASA. The County claimed he was guilty of “conduct unbecoming” and quickly fired Gerald after 10 years of faithful service.

Gerald filed a lawsuit challenging his termination because he believed that he was fired only because he is gay. With the help of his lawyers at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP, Gerald was able to pursue his case all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States and help end LGBTQ workplace discrimination.

Since his case concluded, Gerald has been invited to speak about his experiences and the case to various organizations. In June 2023, the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) honored Gerald as a Courageous Plaintiff at their annual convention.