John Locher / AP
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford speaks during an interview, Friday, Dec. 14, 2018, in Las Vegas.
Wednesday, July 3, 2019 | 6 p.m.
AUGUSTA, Maine — A coalition led by the attorneys general of Illinois and New York has filed a legal brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring.
The brief comes ahead of oral arguments on three cases that may determine whether gays, lesbians and transgender people are protected from discrimination by existing federal civil rights laws.
Nevada is among the states joining the brief filed Wednesday.
Attorney General Aaron Frey of Maine, also part of the filing, said that the brief's argument is "rooted in the fundamental principle of equal treatment" and that discrimination is unacceptable.
More than 200 corporations have issued a similar call.
Others joining the brief are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
