GOOD NEWS!
President Obama had made known his plans to issue and executive order barring job discrimination against LGBT workers by all federal contractors. Immediately following the Hobby Lobby decision various religious organizations that have such contracts were requesting religious exemptions form the order's coverage. It now appears that they aren't going to get it.
Obama to Extend Protections for Gay Workers, With No Religious Exemption
President Obama plans to sign an executive order on Monday barring discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees of companies that do federal government work, according to White House officials. But it will not include a religious exemption many faith organizations had requested, the officials said.
The order would also for the first time explicitly protect federal employees from discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
After a setback in the Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby case, Mr. Obama was facing pressure from religious groups demanding to be excluded from the long-promised executive order.
A group of major faith organizations, including some of Mr. Obama’s allies, had said he should consider adding an exemption for groups whose religious beliefs oppose homosexuality. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, the court ruled that family-run corporations with religious objections could be exempted from providing employees with insurance coverage for contraception.
Thank you, Mr. President!