Yesterday Secretary of Labor Tom Perez announced that the final rule implementing President Obama's Executive Order 13672 has been posted. You may recall that EO, signed by the president on July 21, which prohibits discrimination by government contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The rule will go in to effect 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register tomorrow.
Americans believe in fairness and opportunity. No one should live in fear of being fired or passed over or discriminated against at work simply because of who they are or who they love. Laws prohibiting workplace discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity are long overdue, and we’re taking a big step forward today to fix that.
--Secretary Perez
Americans believe in fairness and opportunity? Methinks Sec. Perez is naive.
Approximately 20 percent of the nation’s workforce is employed by federal contractors. Companies contracting with the federal government for $10,000 or more in a single year are already prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex.
We are building on the work of presidents and members of Congress from both parties who have expanded opportunities for America’s workers,” stated Patricia Shiu, director of the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which will enforce the new rule. “This rule will extend protections to millions of workers who are employed by or seek jobs with federal contractors and subcontractors, ensuring that sexual orientation and gender identity are never used as justification for workplace discrimination by those that profit from taxpayer dollars.
--Patricia Shiu, director of the Labor Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Director's Shiu's office will be charged with enforcing the new rule.
This is a critical step, but its limit to federal contractors reminds us once again that there are still countless workers who are subject to legal discrimination across the country. It is time for Speaker Boehner to stand up to prejudice and allow a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
--Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Today’s ruling moves us in the right direction, but we still have more work to do. We must continue to pursue full equality for all Americans, not just those who happen to work for federal contractors or live in certain states. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and our partners in the LGBT community so that our laws reflect our values and guarantee equal treatment for all Americans.
--Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Also yesterday 6 Republican representatives
sent a letter to Speaker Boehner calling for him to allow a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
As the 113th Congress draws to a close, we respectfully encourage you to support inclusion of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a commonsense piece of legislation to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, as part of any available legislative vehicle including the National Defense Authorization Act.
--Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), Richard Hanna (NY), Charlie Dent (PA), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Chris Gibson (NY) and Jon Runyan (NJ)