Pride at Work Statement on the President’s Signing of an Executive Order Barring Discrimination against LGBT Federal Contract Workers
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.“
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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 www.prideatwork.org or email Pride at Work at info@prideatwork.org.
