37
United States senators, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley, who today sent a
letter to President Obama urging him to issue an executive order barring
federal contractors from discriminating in hiring on the basis of
sexual orientation or gender identity. Because of a lack of federal
protections, it remains legal to fire or refuse to hire someone based on
his or her sexual orientation in more than half the country – 29 states
– and to base those same employment decisions on someone’s gender
identity in 34 states.
“An executive order from President Obama would ensure that hundreds of
thousands of LGBT federal contract employees could go to work every day
without fear of being fired for who they are or who they love,” said
HRC President Chad Griffin. “I am grateful to these leaders in the
Senate for speaking out on behalf of LGBT Americans who want nothing
more than a fair shot at a job.”
Federal contractors employ more than 20 percent of the American
workforce and earn around $500 billion from federal taxpayers every
year. According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law,
prohibiting anti-LGBT employment discrimination by federal contractors
would extend equal workplace rights to more than 16 million workers, and
would help ensure that they are not forced into the ranks of the
unemployed based solely on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“It’s outrageous that in the year 2013, it is still legal to fire
someone based on who they love,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley. “The President
can protect millions of workers from unfair discrimination with the
stroke of a pen. I’m pleased that 36 of my colleagues have joined
together to push for more equality in the workplace.”
According to a recent poll
commissioned by HRC, 73 percent of Americans support an executive order
barring discrimination against LGBT employees by federal contractors.
Furthermore, a strong majority (57 percent) of Fortune 500 companies have enacted such policies for their employees.
Click here to view the letter and a full list of senators who signed it.