US: Obama will sign executive order banning LGBT workplace discrimination Monday
President Barack Obama will sign an executive order barring LGBT workplace discrimination by federal contractors and the federal government on Monday.
Anonymous senior administration officials told several news outlets Friday that Obama plans to amend two existing executive orders barring discrimination against workers to include protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Officials also reported no religious exemption will be present in the amendments.
Obama plans to amend Executive Order 11246 — which currently prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin — to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
This amendment will impact around 24,000 companies that employ about 28 million workers, approximately one-fifth of the US workforce.
He also plans to amend Executive Order 11478, which prohibits discrimination in the federal civilian workplace, to include gender identity.
The amendment to Executive Order 11478 will take effect immediately Monday, while the amendment to Executive Order 11246 will take effect in early 2015.
Officials also reported Obama won’t repeal former President George W. Bush’s amendment to Executive Order 11246, which allows religious-affiliated federal contractors to prioritize hiring employees that share their religious beliefs.
On 16 June, Obama confirmed plans to sign an amendment to Executive Order 11246.
Obama announced plans to sign an amendment to Executive Order 11478 earlier this month.
