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Related Current Events:

Supreme Court Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the right to marry to same-sex couples in the United States. The Court ruled that gay marriage is a right protected by the 14th amendment and that all states must allow same-sex couples to wed. This 5-4 decision overrides state laws and state constitutional amendments that forbid same-sex marriage. Many groups are celebrating the decision saying that this is a civil rights case that will one day be celebrated like the landmark integration case, Brown vs. Board of Education. Others who oppose same-sex marriage vow to fight the decision saying the court doesn’t have the right to override public opinion and states’ rights to define marriage. Listen to learn more about this historic decision. You can see how this decision will impact different states with this NPR Map and read the decision for yourself.
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CURRENT EVENT | June 29, 2020

Supreme Court Decision Protects LGBTQ Workers

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers may not discriminate against workers for being gay or transgender. The court based its decision on the 1964 Civil Rights Act barring discrimination on the basis of sex, saying that law applied to LGBTQ people. The ruling makes discrimination against LGBTQ people illegal everywhere in the country, overriding laws already in place in states and local governments. Listen to hear the man who filed the lawsuit seven years ago react to the decision, and learn how life for LGBTQ people may change as a result of the landmark ruling.

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High Court: Ban On Sex Discrimination Applies To LGBTQ Employees

SOURCE:

06/16/2020

Listening Link (share with students)

Copy this link and distribute for students to listen from their own device.

https://app.listenwise.com/students/events/1703-supreme-court-decision-protects-lgbtq-workers

Listening Comprehension Questions

What did the U.S. Supreme Court recently decide?
What choice was the music director in the story asked to make, and how did she respond?
How does the community center director believe the Supreme Court decision will affect future LGBTQ youth?
Why do some religious organizations oppose the Supreme Court decision?
What workplace issues remain unresolved, according to the story?

Classroom Discussion Themes

Why do you think this is considered an historic decision?
Have you ever felt that you could not be yourself in certain situations? Explain your experience.

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