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The President announces executive order protecting federal employees from gender-identity discrimination.
President on Monday announced he would sign an executive order protecting federal employees from being discriminated against on the basis of gender identity. Discriminating against federal employees based on sexual orientation is already banned.
Obama made the announcement at a Pride Month Celebration in the East Room of the White House, where the president and his wife, Michelle, recognized gay Americans who have been influential in their lives. He recounted the steps he has taken to advance gay rights, including signing hate crimes legislation and working to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the military.
The executive order is Obama’s latest use of his administrative powers in this area. Earlier this month, he announced he would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
He made the announcement after years of pressure by gay rights advocates. Obama had called for passage of federal legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but Congress has declined to pass it.
Still, Obama said, his administration has “gone further in protecting the rights of lesbian and gay and bisexual and transgender Americans than any administration in history.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/30/obama-announces-executive-order-protecting-federal-employees-from-gender-identity-discrimination/