Sexual Orientation, LGBT and the Workplace

Author: Law Catalyst Legal Media and Marketing
Published: 1st Jan 2016 - Updated: 22nd Mar 2018
Peer-Reviewed Publication: N/A
Additional References: Workplace Discrimination Publications

Summary: The American Law Journal presented Fired for Being Gay: ENDA of LGBT Discrimination at Work? on the Philadelphia CNN-News affiliate, WFMZ-TV.

Main Document

The American Law Journal television program brought home Emmy® statuettes for the category Interview/Discussion Program/Special and was nominated for three additional categories. The programs are judged by peers in the National Television Arts & Sciences from Chapters across the country and awarded regionally; this award was announced at the Mid-Atlantic chapter gala in Philadelphia, September 2015.

Indiana and Arkansas' religious freedom restoration acts laws are under scrutiny.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on same-sex marriage this year. But protection from discrimination for LGBT employees is not much further along than when a gay Pennsylvania accountant got fired twenty years ago.

The American Law Journal presented "Fired for Being Gay: 'ENDA' of LGBT Discrimination at Work?" on the Philadelphia CNN-News affiliate, WFMZ-TV. Host Christopher Naughton welcomed corporate defense counsel Anthony Haller of Blank Rome and employee plaintiffs counsel Angela Giampolo of the Giampolo Law Group. Daniel Miller, CPA of the Harrisburg accounting firm Miller, Dixon & Drake joins the program. Mr. Miller was fired in the early 1990's based solely on his sexual orientation. His case drew national attention, but he lost his appeal before the Third Circuit in a 2-to-1 decision.

The program addressed both 'ENDA' - the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that passed overwhelmingly in the Senate but has little chance of passing in the house; and Pennsylvania's House and Senate Bill #300 which has languished in both chambers for years.

"You would never see homosexuality as a termination for cause in contract today," said Giampolo. "We have used creative lawyering to help the likes of Daniel Millers of today. But the laws are not uniform. If gay law were straight law and straight law were gay law, I could use my creative lawyering for better purposes.

"I would actually take issue that the law hasn't changed," stated Haller. "There has been an evolution of the law [that] does give some basis for protecting people in the workplace where they feel they are being harassed because of their sexual orientation."

The American Law Journal, a weekly talk-feature program, is now in its 25th season of broadcasting on the CNN-News affiliate for Philadelphia, WFMZ-TV 69 to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Airing Monday nights at 7:00 pm from October to Memorial Day the program is also available on http://www.YouTube.com/LawJournalTV. For over the air channels (HD, satellite) see http://bit.ly/ALJchannels.

The program discusses consumer, business and Constitutional issues with attorneys, law professors, judges, elected officials and others to shed light on current legal news and how the system impacts the everyday lives of citizens. Programs are live or taped in studio and on location in and around Philadelphia including the National Constitution Center, the Union League and law schools.

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