Dive Brief:
- A health care center serving Philadelphia's LGBTQ community is defending its decision to hire a non-LGBTQ CEO, citing its nondiscrimination policy.
- After a five-month nationwide search, the Mazzoni Center's board chose Lydia Gonzalez Sciarrino, a straight Latina woman, according to local media. She previously served as CEO of a Florida health center, but members of Philadelphia's LGBTQ community have voiced complaints about the board's choice.
- "When it comes to matters of employment, Mazzoni Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identification or gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or any other protected status covered by federal, state or local law. Thus, all employment-related decisions are made solely on the basis of a candidate’s skills, ability, experience, education, training, and other legitimate factors related to the requirements of the job," the organization said in a statement. "We are disappointed members of the community—our community—chose to judge Lydia without first meeting her, based on their perceptions of her race, gender identity and orientation, and not her qualifications."
Dive Insight:
For those in the LGBTQ community, the decision not to include sexual orientation in the hiring decision at the Mazzoni Center may emphasize the workplace discrimination and harassment the community continues to face. With unemployment rates of up to three times the national average and an increased risk of bullying, many hope that diverse leadership could help reduce those issues.
For employers trying to comply with federal nondiscrimination law, however, confusion abounds. The federal courts of appeal are split on whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from discrimination based on LGBTQ status. And as the judicial system wrestles with that question, another has arrived: Does Title VII protect all sexual orientations, even heterosexuality? A federal district court recently held that it does not, but it's important to note that the court relied on 5th Circuit precedent, which also says that Title VII doesn't protect LGBTQ workers.
For now, experts continue to recommend that employers refrain from discriminating against workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity.