Knowledge about Federal Employment Nondiscrimination Protections on the Basis of Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Using a US nationally representative online sample, we measure the level of knowledge on employment nondiscrimination laws. Although Americans are well informed about sex, race, and disability being protected characteristics, only about 71 percent think that sexual orientation is a protected characteristic. Sexual minorities are as uninformed as heterosexual individuals that sexual orientation is legally protected from employment discrimination. Furthermore, sexual minorities living in states that did not previously have statewide employment nondiscrimination protections prior to the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County are less likely to think that sexual orientation is a protected characteristic.