Second Circuit Court of Appeals precedent holds Title VII's prohibition of unlawful discrimination based on "sex" does not encompasses discrimination based on "sexual orientation"

Second Circuit Court of Appeals precedent holds Title VII's prohibition of unlawful discrimination based on "sex" does not encompasses discrimination based on "sexual orientation"

Zarda v Altitude Express, USCA, 2nd Circuit, Docket #15-3775;

Donald Zarda,* a skydiver, alleged that he was terminated from his job as a skydiving instructor because of his sexual orientation. He sued his former employer, Altitude Express, alleging that his termination was in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.,] and New York State's Human Right Law [Executive Law Article 15].

The United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, found a triable issue of fact with respect to Zarda's contention that Altitude was in of violation of New York law but granted summary judgment to Altitude with respect to Zarda's Title VII claim. The district court, citing Simonton v Runyon, 232 F.3d 33, observed that Second Circuit precedent holds that Title VII does not protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. 

Considering Zarda's allegations that Altitude violated New York State's Civil Rights Law, the jury found for Altitude.

On appeal, Zarda asked the Circuit Court's three-judge panel to reconsider the Second Circuit's interpretation of Title VII and hold that Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination based on “sex” includes discrimination based on “sexual orientation.” 

The panel declined to do so, explaining that "a three-judge panel of this Court lacks the power to overturn Circuit precedent."

* Zarda died in a skydiving accident before the case went to trial and two executors of his estate replaced him as plaintiff.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/bea90438-1fa4-4076-a1ff-2065c27c670d/1/doc/15-3775_opn.pdf#xml=http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/bea90438-1fa4-4076-a1ff-2065c27c670d/1/hilite/