R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes, Inc. v. EEOC

In 2013, William Stephens (now Aimee Stephens), a biological male at birth, informed his employer, Harris Funeral Homes, that Stephens sought to transition to a female. As part of the transition, Stephens planned to wear a female uniform at work. Harris Funeral Homes then fired Stephens. Stephens sued, arguing that Harris’s action violated Title VII’s prohibition on discrimination “because of sex.”

Note: This case is a companion with Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda which involves the same statute, but as applied to transgender individuals. The two cases can easily be studied together as their significance and implications are similar; however, there are nuanced and important differences in the parties’ arguments. 

Classroom Case Study

This classroom case study provides:

• background on the legal issues in the case;
• facts of the case;
• key legal definitions;
• argument summaries for the employers and employees; and
• focus questions for fostering classroom discussion;

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Use Excerpts from Oral Argument in the Classroom. Delve into the case further by analyzing excerpts from the oral argument session. 

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The classroom case study was modified from PREVIEW of United States Supreme Court Cases. It can be used for teacher reference and provides a more detailed look at the case.

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