Kansas Gov. Brownback removes non-discrimination protections for LGBT state employees

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has rescinded an executive order signed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2007 that extended non-discrimination protections to state employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The order required agencies under the governor’s direct control to ensure they have programs to prevent harassment against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals…

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President Obama signs executive order protecting LGBT workers from job discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today in a White House ceremony, President Obama signed a sweeping executive order protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers from job discrimination. The order, profoundly consequential in its own right, dramatically underscores President Obama’s own LGBT legacy of achievement, unmatched in history: three landmark pieces of legislation; 90 significant policy or…

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Legal scholars urge President Obama to resist calls for overly broad religious exemption in proposed Executive Order

NEW YORK —More than 50 legal scholars have strongly urged President Obama to resist calls for an overly broad religious exemption in a proposed executive order prohibiting sexual orientation and/or gender identity discrimination by federal contractors. The effort is being spearheaded by Columbia Law School’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, as part of its recently…

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President Obama announces executive order banning gender identity discrimination for federal employees

WASHINGTON – Last night at the White House LGBT Pride Reception, President Obama announced he would be issuing an executive order to protect transgender federal employees from workplace discrimination.  Once issued, it would expand upon an executive order from President Bill Clinton, which banned workplace discrimination among federal employees on the basis of sexual orientation. …

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HRC: ExxonMobil lies about its non-discrimination policies in response to Executive Order

WASHINGTON –– Following yesterday’s announcement that President Obama will soon issue an executive order extending essential workplace protections to the employees of federal contractors, all eyes turned to the Exxon Mobil Corporation—a Fortune 100 corporation and one of the nation’s largest federal contractors. ExxonMobil has long resisted instituting non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees, digging in…

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New executive orders underscore need for provision protecting LGBT Americans

WASHINGTON – This morning, President Obama will sign two executive actions aimed at eliminating sex discrimination in federal contracting. Movement on these critically important orders, intended to support a push for Congress to pass the Pay Check Fairness Act, underscores the need for President Obama to offer protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)…

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