The Fourth Circuit is First to Rule that ADA Protects Gender Dysphoria


Summary

On August 16, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a landmark decision, Williams v. Kincaid, finding that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act protect individuals with gender dysphoria. This decision is the first decision by a federal appellate court on this issue. The Fourth Circuit determined the ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims provide identical protection with respect to the issues in this case and analyzed both under the ADA.