Today In Things That Are Overdue But Very Welcome
By The White House announced on Monday that President Barack Obama will issue an executive order requiring all companies with federal government contracts to refrain from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
It is currently legal to fire people because of their sexual orientation in 29 states, and in 33 states it is legal to fire people for their gender identity.
Anywhere from 15 to 43 percent of gay people have experienced discrimination and harassment in the workplace, and over 90 percent of transgender workers report that they have been discriminated against or harassed. This executive order would protect over 1 million LGBT workers, the largest expansion of workplace protection for gay and transgender workers in the country’s history.