The Missouri Court of Appeals recently issued a decision in favor of a gay employee who filed a lawsuit alleging sex discrimination based on sex stereotyping. Lampley v. Missouri Commission on Human Rights, No. WD80288 (https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=119013)

The employee, Lampley, alleged his employer discriminated against him based on sex because “his behavior and appearance contradicted the stereotypes of maleness held by his employer.” The appellate court found that the employee’s claims of discrimination were not based on sexual orientation, but sex itself.

Although many states now have statutes that prohibit sex discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, Missouri does not. This case indicates the increasing trend across the country for courts to provide protections for the LGBTQ community.