15 August 2023- Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following the statement after Monday’s Maryland Supreme Court decision to decline extending employment law protections for sex-based discrimination to discrimination based on sexual orientation:
“As Maryland’s Attorney General, I promised to work every day to ensure that hate, discrimination, and bias will have no sanctuary in this State. To that end, my Office filed an amicus brief in this case in support of safeguarding employees’ freedom from job discrimination because of sexual orientation or identity.
The Maryland Supreme Court’s decision declining to follow the U.S. Supreme Court’s protection of people on the basis of sexual orientation and identity in employment is a disheartening setback. But it won’t stop us. I’m calling on the Maryland General Assembly to rectify this setback during the next legislative session, and I will stand by them every step of the way.
We must not allow any gaps in our laws that could leave Marylanders vulnerable to discriminatory practices in the workplace. Every Marylander, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves respect and protection on the job. It’s a promise we must keep.”
