VICTORY: President to sign executive order to protect LGBTQ employees of federal contractors

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Daley Director of Communications (Office) 202.639.6325 (Cell) 202.379.8318 mdaley@theTaskForce.org STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 12 NOON ET VICTORY: President to sign executive order to protect LGBTQ employees of federal contractors WASHINGTON, DC, Jun 16, 2014: “This is a major step forward in the struggle for freedom and justice for LGBTQ workers and their families. Now millions of people will have the economic security they need to provide for their families. Through his actions, the President has demonstrated again his commitment to ending discrimination. We thank all the organizations who have worked so hard to make this piece of history. This decision is good for LGBTQ people, good for our economy and good for America. Unfortunately, many of us who don’t work for federal contractors will still lack workplace protections. Now we must redouble our efforts for the urgent passage of state employment protections and strong federal legislation.” Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force –30– To learn more about the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, visit and follow us on Twitter: @TheTaskForce.

Pride at Work Statement on the President’s Signing of an Executive Order Barring Discrimination against LGBT Federal Contract Workers

For Immediate Release June 16, 2014 Contact: Jerame Davis jdavis@aflcio.org Pride at Work Statement on the President’s Signing of an Executive Order Barring Discrimination against LGBT Federal Contract Workers WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the White House announced plans for President Obama to sign an executive order to protect employees of federal contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Pride at Work interim Executive Director Jerame Davis issued the following statement: “We are glad the president is taking this important step to protect federal contractor employees from discrimination on the job,” said Davis. “But unfortunately for many Americans – especially in states with no employment discrimination protections – their only option for workplace protections is still a strong union contract. “Congress still must act to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to ensure that all LGBT Americans are protected from workplace discrimination. Only 18 states currently ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity while three other states ban discrimination based on sexual orientation alone. With marriage equality sweeping the nation, it is unconscionable that gays and lesbians could still be fired for putting a photo of their legal spouse on their desk at work.“ ### Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBT Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBT Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.” Workers interested in joining Pride at Work or in launching new chapter organizing efforts, can visit http://www.prideatwork.org or email Pride at Work at info@prideatwork.org.

White House Announces Plans For Executive Order Prohibiting LGBT Discrimination

For Immediate Distribution
June 16, 2014

Contact:
Laura Rodriguez, lrodriguez@rabengroup.com, (310) 956-2425
Donald Gatlin, dgatlin@rabengroup.com, (202) 587-2871

14 Millions More Workers Would Be Protected By Executive Order employment discrimination against LGBT people

Order will reduce persistent and pervasive employment discrimination against LGBT people

LOS ANGELES— The White House has announced that President Obama has directed his staff to prepare a federal executive order requiring contractors to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity—a move that will protect 14 million more workers in the U.S. than current state law, according to research by the Williams Institute.

“The executive order will help reduce the number of American workers who can be harassed or fired based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Williams Institute Executive Director, Brad Sears. “Williams Institute research has documented pervasive and persistent patterns of workplace discrimination in all fifty states, however, our analysis indicates that state and local nondiscrimination laws protect only a portion of the American workforce.”

“Today, discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is disturbingly common. A 2013 survey found that 21 percent of LGBT people report having been treated unfairly by an employer,” said Williams Distinguished Scholar, Lee Badgett. “Further, almost half of transgender people in a recent survey had experienced discrimination in hiring, promotion or job retention.”

A Williams Institute infographic illustrating evidence of workplace discrimination against LGBT people is available here.

“The executive order brings the federal government a step closer to nondiscrimination policies already enacted by many top 50 federal contractors and Fortune 500 companies, said Senior Counsel, Christy Mallory. “These employers link inclusive policies to recruiting and retaining the best talent, generating the most innovative ideas, and maintaining positive employee morale and relations.”

Williams Institute research has shown:

• As of May 2014, 86% of the top 50 federal contractors prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 61% prohibited discrimination based on gender identity.

• All but two of the top 50 Fortune 500 companies prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation (96%) as of May 2014, and 70% prohibited discrimination based on gender identity.

• Local policies that require city and county contractors to prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination do not burden governments or businesses.

• Combined, the top 50 contractors represent 47.7% of all contracting dollars awarded by the federal government – over $218 billion in spending.

• An estimated 11 million more workers will be protected from sexual orientation discrimination when taking into account those already protected by state law or employer policy.  An additional 14 million workers will be protected from gender identity discrimination.  Estimates take recent changes in state nondiscrimination laws into account.

BREAKING NEWS: President Obama To Sign Executive Order Protecting LGBT Employees

Dan Tracer | Queerty | June 16, 2014

The White House has just announced that President Obama plans to sign an executive order to protect 16 million Americans against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The mandate affects Federal contractors, which employ more than 20 percent of the American workforce.

This major show of support from the president comes as a bit of a surprise, as just a few months ago the White House cited congress’ stalemated Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) as the reason an executive order to the same effect would be “redundant.”

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