Harold Lampley and Rene Frost v. Missouri Commission on Human Rights (Amicus Curiae)

In 2014, Harold Lampley filed a charge of sex discrimination against his employer, the State of Missouri's Office of Administration Child Support Enforcement Edition. Lampley's charge was filed on the basis of discrimination due to his nonconformity to sex stereotypes of ideal masculinity. Lampley was underscored on a performance evaluation following his initial complaint, leading him to also charge his employer with retaliation. Rene Frost, Lampley's close friend and co-worker, also filed a charge of retaliation based on her friendship with Lampley. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights dismissed the charge citing a lack of jurisdiction, as Lampley was gay and sexual orientation is not a protected status under the Missouri Human Rights Act. 

The dismissal of this charge was appealed to the Western District Court of Appeals. The ACLU of Missouri filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Lampley and Frost, arguing that discrimination based on an employee's failure to conform to sex stereotypes is prohibited under the Missouri Human Rights Act, regardless of the employee's sexual orientation. The court found in favor of Lampley and Frost and the closing in their charges was remanded and reversed.

Find the Legal Glossary here: https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/node/124