Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, issued the below statement following the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity in their 2017 Equal Employment Opportunity statement:

 

“Yet again, we see the Trump/Pence Administration actively seeking to undermine rights for LGBTQ people,” said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs Director. “The Department of Commerce’s latest move to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity in their Equal Employment Opportunity statement is mean-spirited, deceptive and irresponsible. Under the Civil Service Reform Act and the Executive Orders signed by Presidents Clinton and Obama, sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination is prohibited in federal employment. The Commerce Department’s EEO statement is meant to inform workers and applicants about their legal protections. Cutting specific mention of sexual orientation and gender identity protections is a slap in the face to LGBTQ federal employees who proudly serve at the Department of Commerce and sadly signals that this administration does not value them. In 2004, when Special Counsel Scott Bloch made a similar move, President George W. Bush’s White House disavowed the action and ultimately fired Bloch. President Trump should direct the Secretary of Commerce to restore the EEO language immediately.”