Next LGBTQ rights legal battle looms after Supreme Court victory

Joseph Fons holding a Pride Flag, stands in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building after the court ruled that a federal law banning workplace discrimination also covers sexual orientation, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 15, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling protecting LGBT rights in the workplace sets the stage for another major legal fight over the scope of religious-rights exemptions to certain federal laws that could dilute the landmark decision’s impact.

The justices ruled 6 to 3 on Monday that federal employment law safeguards gay and transgender employees from discrimination but failed to resolve some related legal questions. One of them is whether the court, which has 5 to 4 conservative majority, will expand the ability of individuals, businesses and organizations to cite religious beliefs when contesting government actions such as the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.