The American Humanist Association and the LGBT Humanist Council are pleased by the decision earlier this week by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to grant federal protection against discrimination to transgender Americans.

Deciding on Monday, April 23, that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects employees from discrimination based on gender identity, the EEOC has for the first time made a clear ruling on the issue.

“No one should suffer from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “This is a major victory for LGBT civil rights and clarifies that equality is for everyone.”

“Having federal protection against employment discrimination is a major step for transgendered people,” said Jason Frye, Coordinator of the LGBT Humanist Council. “This decision is hopefully one that will provide support for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) being considered in Congress.”

ENDA would create a federal law to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by almost all employers.