Final answer:
The Supreme Court case Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. broadened Title VII protections to include same-sex harassment, and the Bostock v. Clayton County decision further extended these protections to cover discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Title VII and Same-Sex Harassment
The case of Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc. extended the protection under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include same-sex harassment. However, a more recent Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia further clarified that Title VII's prohibition against discrimination based on sex also includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This landmark ruling ensures that LGBTQ individuals are safeguarded against employment discrimination, which is significant because, at the time of the decision, most states did not explicitly prohibit the firing of LGBTQ employees due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.