Supreme Court Clarifies Title VII Standard for Majority-Group Employees
On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, rejecting the Sixth Circuit’s use of a heightened Title VII standard for majority-group identities. The decision affirmed the uniform application of the disparate-treatment standard. Background The Ohio Department of Youth Services demoted a heterosexual employee, Ames, and placed a gay candidate in her position. She was also passed up for a promotion, which was instead given to a gay candidate. Ames alleged that her