Senators Ask Obama for Executive Order Banning LGBT Employment Discrimination by Federal Contractors

Democratic Senators from across the country called on President Obama for an executive order barring employment discrimination against LGBT people by federal contractors.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

February 14 2013 3:24 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Nearly 40 Senators signed on to a letter today urging President Obama to issue an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against potential employees because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

"Issuing an Executive Order that includes sexual orientation and gender identity is a critical step that you can take today toward ending discrimination in the workplace," wrote the Senators. "By expanding protections for LGBT employees of federal contractors, you would be helping to ensure that all Americans get an equal opportunity to succeed and that federal taxpayer dollars are used to support companies with the best employment practices."

The letter was drafted by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, and signed by 36 other Senators, all Democrats -- including the nation's first out lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, California's Sen. Barbara Boxer, and Minnesota Sen. Al Franken. The letter cites a figure from the Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles, estimating that an executive order barring employment discrimination would protect more than 16 million workers from being fired solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"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 Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin in a release. "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."