Supreme Court to hear arguments in "reverse discrimination" case

Washington — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in an Ohio woman's bid to revive a lawsuit alleging "reverse discrimination" after she said she was denied a promotion and demoted because she is straight.

The case centers on what a plaintiff alleging a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act must prove. Marlean Ames, the woman who brought the case, argues that a "background circumstances" requirement adopted by some lower courts unfairly imposes a higher burden on her as a heterosexual woman. The standard requires plaintiffs who are members of a majority group to put forth more evidence to show that their employer discriminated against them.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, is reviewing the case as President Trump has taken sweeping actions to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs and policies throughout the federal government and fired workers overseeing the initiatives.