US President Donald Trump won’t undo an executive order protecting LGBTI government workers from discrimination, the White House has confirmed.
The promise was made after a number of media reports said President Trump was preparing an executive order that would roll back an earlier order put in place in 2014 by former President Barack Obama.
Obama’s order protected government workers from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity as well as their sexual orientation, and also required all companies doing business with the government to have policies specifically preventing discrimination against their LGBTI workers.
The White House clarified in a statement: “President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.
“President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election.
“The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.”
The administration said in the statement Trump is proud to have been the first Republican presidential candidate to mention the LGBTI community in his nomination acceptance speech, referring to his pledge to protect LGBTI people “from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology” at the Republican National Convention last July.
But the Human Rights Campaign said that Trump is setting a “low bar” by not reversing Obama’s order.
“LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims and women are scared today, and with good reason. Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House,” Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said.
“Donald Trump has left the key question unanswered — will he commit to opposing any executive actions that allow government employees, taxpayer-funded organizations or even companies to discriminate?”
For the latest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) news in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
No Comment