Following the historic legalization of marriage equality this past summer, another pivotal case regarding LGBT rights is now being brought to trial. Currently only 19 states and D.C. have protections in place based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and three states only protect based on sexual orientation. However, according to this suit, discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation is already illegal.
In 2012, 57-year-old David Baldwin, who is gay, filed a complaint against his former employer, the Federal Aviation Administration, with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Baldwin cited numerous instances of discrimination due to his sexual orientation. He stated he was passed up for promotions based on his sexual orientation and recounted multiple times employees made discriminatory comments to Baldwin regarding his orientation.
In his complaint, Baldwin noted remarks made by Mark Scott, his former direct supervisor. Baldwin once mentioned at work that he and his partner went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and was told by Scott, “We don’t need to hear about that gay stuff.” Scott also told Baldwin on numerous occasions that he was “a distraction in the radar room” for discussing his partner. When Baldwin said that his partner made his lunch for him, Scott called the remark “inappropriate” and ordered Baldwin to “get out of the radar room with that kind of talk.”
