Full name: MELISSA ZARDA, co-independent executor of the estate of Donald Zarda, and WILLIAM ALLEN MOORE, JR., co-independent executor of the estate of Donald Zarda, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. ALTITUDE EXPRESS, INC., doing business as SKYDIVE LONG ISLAND, and RAY MAYNARD, Defendants-Appellees.
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Appeals Court rules on sexual orientation discrimination
This ruling by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals states that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation is equivalent to sex discrimination that is prohibited by the the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Zarda claimed firing was due to sexual orientation
Donald Zarda was a sky-diving instructor at Altitude Express. He claimed he was fired as a result of telling a client he was gay.
He sued, arguing that the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex.
Note: Zarda has since died, but the case is being continued in his name.
Circuit Court ruled in Zarda's favor
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that sexual orientation discrimination is a form of discrimination "because of ... sex".
Click here to read the Second Circuit Appeals Court decision.