October Term 2019 · Docket 17-1618
Does Title VII ban firing workers for dating same-sex partners?
Employers argue sex discrimination covers only male or female status. Workers argue it covers sexual orientation.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Karlan argued that firing a man for dating men violates Title VII.
General Francisco argued that sex means male or female, not sexual orientation.
Chief Justice Roberts asked how to handle policies applying equally to men and women.
Justice Ginsburg noted differences in prison guard demographics.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal law bars firing workers for dating same-sex partners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to rule that Title VII bans sexual orientation discrimination.
the opposing sides want the Court to rule that Title VII only bans male or female status discrimination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
What each side says
Ms. Karlan argues firing a man for dating men violates Title VII.
General Francisco argues sex means male or female, not gay or straight.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked how to handle policies applying equally to men and women.
Justice Ginsburg noted differences in prison guard demographics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-13
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-7
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.