Biden Issues Executive Order to Prevent Discrimination on Basis of Gender and Sexual Identity
President Joseph Biden, on his first day in office, signed nine executive orders. One of these was Executive Order (EO) 13988, titled Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. The EO also addresses overlapping areas of discrimination such as where race or disability and sexual orientation are compounding factors for discrimination. What employers are affected by Executive Order 13988? EO 13988 directs all federal agencies to review their programs, policies, regulations, and documents for …
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EEOC Files First Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuits
Two recent suits filed by the EEOC demonstrate the growing strength of the legal theory that Title VII protection extends to sexual orientation (despite the fact that it is not explicitly stated in the statute). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed discrimination lawsuits against two employers last week based on sexual orientation. One suit, filed against Pittsburgh-based Scott Medical Health Center (case 2:16-cv-00225-CB), alleges that a gay male employee was harassed due to his sexual orientation. The other, filed …
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President Obama to Sign Executive Order Curbing LGBT Employment Discrimination
Yesterday, President Obama pledged that he would sign an executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Because federal contractors employ 22% of the American workforce, the impending executive order will serve as an important step in eliminating discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace. While the executive order will not protect all LGBT workers in the private labor market, it is a step in the right direction. Employment opportunities should …
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