Why Hasn’t the President signed an Executive Order that would Help Put An End to Discrimination?

In 29 states, it’s still legal to fire someone because of their sexual orientation. In 35 states it’s still legal to fire someone based on their gender orientation. Though campaigns like changing the Idaho human rights amendment to end this type of discrimination seems to be gaining hold in several states, the president has the power to prohibit federal dollars from going to companies that don’t have non-discrimination protections with a stroke of the pen.

Why hasn’t he done so?

Good question.

It’s  also one that  Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson asked White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Monday…

“Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson: I want to follow up on what I asked you about earlier on the lack of federal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people in the workplace. “The president supports legislation known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would address this issue, but he can also take administration action. He can issue an executive order saying federal dollars won’t go to contractors that don’t have their own non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. If the president supports legislation to address this issue, what’s stopping him from issuing an executive order that would move toward the same goal?

Jay Carney: Chris, I don’t have anything new for you on that, so I don’t have probably an answer that will move that story along for you. But if you want to ask me, I can look into it for you.”

It’s not the first time the President, who supports federal legislation that would end such discrimination, has been asked the question.

ENDA has been introduced to congress every year since 1994. This year is no exception, though with a republican controlled house it seems unlikely the legislation will make it through congress. That leaves an executive order the only option to get any sort of federal anti discrimination law on the books before the  2012 elections.

The Washington Blade reports that,”In response to a request to follow up on Carney’s comments, Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said later Monday via e-mail, “We have no updates for you.”

In other words, it’s not looking promising.

(Read the full Washington Blade article HERE.)

(If you aren’t familiar with the campaign to include sexual orientation and gender identity to Idaho’s human rights law please click HERE and ask your state lawmakers to, “Add The Words”.)