While LGBTQI+ people have been granted equality under eyes of the law in many countries, that does not mean discrimination or harassment against the Queer community has ended. Unfortunately, whether in the workplace, universities or online, Queer people still face barriers in life.
Queer Rights Lawyers provides specialised and focused advice to those who have been discriminated against or harassed within the Queer community. Even if the discrimination you are facing has nothing to do with your sexual orientation or gender identity, you may prefer to work with a firm that is committed to representing and celebrating the Queer community in all its diversity and ensuring its voice is heard.
Over the past 30 years, McAllister Olivarius has built an international reputation for providing skillful and supportive representation to people unfairly treated by employers, universities, online harassers, government bodies, and others. We have a track record of representing victims of discrimination and are committed to bringing this expertise to the Queer community. We offer advice on a wide range of issues, with a particular focus on issues arising in the workplace, online and on campus.
We are proud to stand as anti-discrimination lawyers to the LGBTQI+ community.
If you think you may be facing discrimination and/or harassment at work, university or online, please call us now on +44 (0)20 3048 5959 or fill in our contact form. You will be put in touch with an experienced member of our legal team who will work with you to determine how we can fight for your rights.
We specialise in representing the Queer community in the following areas:
Employment
Unfortunately, many members of the Queer community still face barriers to recruitment, promotion, training and other workplace activities. The laws protecting LGBTQI+ employees from discrimination are constantly developing, and it can be difficult to know what constitutes unfair treatment without taking advice from a lawyer who specialises in this field. If you feel that you have been treated less favourably in the workplace as a result of your sexual orientation or gender identity, we will be happy to assist you.
Employment discrimination in the UK: The Equality Act 2010 protects all LGBT staff from all forms of discrimination and harassment in the workplace, including offensive comments. The law applies whether or not the person facing discrimination is a member of the LGBT community (discrimination can occur because someone is thought to be LGBT). Those with non-binary gender identities are not explicitly protected under the laws of England and Wales, but non-binary employees who face discrimination or harassment due to perceived gender are protected.
Education
Queer students and faculty alike continue to face homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination. LGBTQI+ students in particular continue to face high rates of discrimination in the US and frequently encounter blame when seeking help for mistreatment. McAllister Olivarius has a strong reputation for fighting cases of sexual assault or harassment at universities in the US and UK, and we bring these strengths to our work at QRL. We offer advice to both Queer students and academics who have faced discrimination and/or harassment in universities.
Intimate Image Abuse (“Revenge Porn”)
Intimate Image abuse (IAA) can be traumatic and terrifying. McAllister Olivarius is uniquely positioned to help members of the Queer community who are facing threats, intimidation, blackmail or other harms associated with IAA. We built one of the world’s first practices specialized in this field and have since advised hundreds of LGBTQI+ individuals on their rights.
To read an overview of the laws surrounding IAA in the US, visit here.
To read an overview of the laws surrounding IAA in the UK, visit here.
FAQs
Can an employer discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the US?
While federal laws do not explicitly prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation within the private sector, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay or transgender people from employment discrimination. There are also statutes protecting workers against discrimination based on sexual orientation in 22 states and the District of Columbia, while 21 states plus DC have statutes protecting against gender identity-based discrimination.
Can an employer discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the UK?
The Equality Act 2010 protects all LGBT staff from all forms of discrimination and harassment in the workplace, including offensive comments. The law applies whether or not the person facing discrimination is a member of the LGBT community (discrimination can occur because someone is thought to be LGBT). Those with non-binary gender identities are not explicitly protected under the laws of England and Wales, but non-binary employees who face discrimination or harassment due to perceived gender are protected.
Does US law protect Queer students from discrimination?
While existing Title IX rules do not explicitly address this discrimination, new rules proposed by the Biden administration clarify that restricting access to education based on sexual orientation, gender identity (including transgender or nonbinary identity), and sex-related characteristics (including intersex characteristics) constitutes discrimination under Title IX. Federal courts have also held that restrictions placed on transgender students’ ability to access restrooms or participate in sports and athletics appropriate to their gender identity constitutes discrimination under Title IX.
Do the laws of England and Wales law protect Queer students from discrimination?
Under the Equality Act, universities in England and Wales are obliged to prevent the discrimination, harassment or victimization of students and are liable for the actions of their employees unless they can show that ‘all reasonable steps’ were taken to prevent this from taking place. While non-binary genders are not explicitly recognised under the laws of England and Wales, discriminating against someone for their non-binary characteristics may be in breach of one or more laws protecting against discrimination.