Statement of Senator Coons on President Obama's Ban on LGBT Discrimination by Federal Contractors

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, issued the following statement Monday on President Obama's issuance of an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against employees over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Protecting Americans from discrimination is one of our shared values and ought to be part of our laws. Millions of Americans still go to work every day without protection from being summarily fired because of who they are or whom they love. In 29 states, it is still legal to fire someone just because he or she is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. In 32 states, you can be fired for being transgender. President Obama's executive order is an important step in the right direction, ensuring additional civil rights for employees of government contractors. An executive order is not, however, a substitute for the House of Representatives taking up and passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would make it illegal in the United States to fire an employee simply because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. It's been eight months since the Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and it is long-since time for the House to act."

The Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with bipartisan support, 64-34, in November.

In March, Senator Coons joined more than 175 senators and members of Congress on a letter urging President Obama to issue this executive order.

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