Obama backs law that would FINALLY make it illegal to fire people for being gay
President Obama has finally thrown his weight behind a proposed anti-discrimination law – that could finally protect LGBT workers in all 50 states.
Though same-sex marriage is now legal across all 50 US states, current anti-discrimination protection is currently a patchwork of state laws – meaning that you can still legally be fired for being LGBT in 28 states.
Obama has previously signed an Executive Order outlawing discrimination, but this only extends to federal contractors.
However, he has now thrown his weight behind a proposed LGBT anti-discrimination law in Congress – which would implement protections for all workers across all 50 states.
The President had declined to openly back the Equality Act last month – but this week vowed to support the law, which already has backing from most Democratic lawmakers.
His press spokesperson Josh Earnest said: “The administration strongly supports the Equality Act.
“That bill is historic legislation that would advance the cause of equality for millions of Americans.
“We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that the legislative process produces a result that balances both the bedrock principles of civil rights… with the religious liberty that we hold dear in this country.”
Over 100 Democrats have co-sponsored the bill – which would outlaw discrimination and ensure a range of protections for LGBT people – and it also has numerous endorsements from large corporations including Apple.
However, the Republicans currently control both Houses of Congress – and the bill is yet to pick up a single Republican sponsor.
Even the purportedly ‘pro-gay’ Republican group, the Log Cabin Republicans, declined to welcome the law.
The group says it has “hesitations” about the bill’s impact on religious freedom, claiming: “Some of our staunchest Republican allies in Congress with unassailable records in favor of LGBT equality have indicated similar concerns with this legislation.”
