APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A pride flag flying high, and a transgender flag proudly displayed in Appleton.
The flags symbolize how LGBTQ community members feel following a Supreme Court ruling protecting them from discrimination at work.
“We were bracing for the worst, and so I was pleasantly surprised,” Kathy Flores, program director at Diverse & Resilient, said.
Diverse & Resilient is a nonprofit that seeks to improve life for LGBTQ+ people in Wisconsin.
“Transgender people didn’t have employment protections until today, and that is landmark. We are just rejoicing over that,” Flores said.
Julaine Appling te;;s FOX 11 she opposes the Court’s decision. She is the president at Wisconsin Family Action, a nonprofit that seeks to advance conservative causes.
“The court over-stepped its boundaries, took over the role of congress, and re-defined what the word sex means. That is an inappropriate judicial activity.”
Appling says one of her concerns are for employer rights.
“It puts employers in an unfair situation. The ruling is going to have consequences that, again, we might be able to see on the short-term, but we won’t be able to see all of the consequences for quite some time.”.
Vered Meltzer is Appleton’s first openly transgender alder. He tells FOX 11 the ruling is a step in the right direction.
“It really is a sign of hope, a sign of encouragement, a reminder that we are moving forward no matter how challenging any sort of progress seems to be right now.”
But Meltzer says there is still work to be done.
“Ultimately there is still a culture of discrimination. And rulings like this help to delegitimize that, and help to normalize inclusivity. But the ruling itself doesn’t do the work.”
