A federal agency cannot force a Texas-based conservative Christian business to comply with policies barring discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees or job applicants, a federal appeals court has ruled.

What You Need To Know

• A federal appeals court says a government agency cannot enforce anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination employment rules against a Texas company owned by a conservative Christian


• The ruling comes in a lawsuit that Braidwood Management filed to protect itself from the possibility it would face penalties from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its policies, such as gender-specific dress codes


• The 5th Circuit panel says enforcement of EEOC rules forbidding anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination against Braidwood would illegally force the company to violate its religious beliefs

The decision by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity cannot deny Braidwood Management an exemption from anti-discrimination policies designed to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act. Braidwood is entitled to the exemption under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, the ruling said.

“Being forced to employ someone to represent the company who behaves in a manner directly violative of the company’s convictions is a substantial burden and inhibits the practice of Braidwood’s beliefs,” Judge Jerry Smith wrote for the panel of three 5th Circuit judges.

Braidwood wants to make...

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