November 7, 2017
GSA 'Trumps' LGBTQ Workers by Omitting Protections in New EEO Statement
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The not-so-subtle assault on LGBTQ rights by the Trump Administration continued this week when the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) became the latest agency to omit discrimination against LGBTQ workers from its employment policy.
The Washington Blade reports that while discrimination against race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability and genetic information is spelled out in the Equal Opportunity Employment statement for the GSA, mention of sexual orientation and gender identity has been omitted.
"Yet again, we see the Trump-Pence Administration actively seeking to undermine rights for LGBTQ people," said David Stacy, HRC Government Affairs Director. "The GSA's move to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity from their Equal Employment Opportunity statement is mean-spirited, deceptive and irresponsible. The GSA's EEO statement is meant to inform workers and applicants about their legal protections -- protections that federal employees have had for decades. Cutting specific mention of sexual orientation and gender identity protections is a slap in the face to LGBTQ federal employees who proudly serve and sadly signals that this administration does not value them. The GSA should immediately restore the previous, accurate EEO policy."
In June, the Commerce Department made headlines by cutting LGBTQ protections in their EEO policy - then restoring them.
According to their website, the function of the GSA is to provide centralized procurement for the federal government, offering billions of dollars worth of products, services, and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public.
