TLDEF Applauds President Obama for Signing Executive Order Protecting LGBT People Who Work for the Federal Government and Federal Contractors

The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) praises President Barack Obama for signing an executive order that prohibits the federal government as well as federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.

Statement from TLDEF Executive Director Michael Silverman:

“We are grateful to President Obama for banning discrimination against LGBT employees of the federal government and federal contractors. Transgender people face enormous obstacles to finding and keeping jobs. They report unemployment at twice the rate of the population as a whole. And they are nearly four times more likely than the population as a whole to have a household income of less than $10,000.

“These statistics are troubling. Our nation needs a comprehensive federal law to protect LBGT workers. The President’s action today is an enormous step forward in realizing that goal. With the stroke of a pen, the President has protected LGBT people working for the federal government and federal contractors from losing their jobs simply for being who they are. Everyone deserves the same chance to earn a living and provide for their families. This executive order is a huge victory for the LGBT movement.”