The White House has drafted an executive order that would be an unprecedented attack on LGBT rights and protections. Sources say the order would allow federal employees to refuse to serve LGBT people based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity fireable offenses for federal employees and contractors, and allow discrimination against the LGBT community by those who receive federal funding.
Josh Rogin of The Washington Post got confirmation of the Executive Order from sources in the White House:
I’m told reliably there is a draft Executive order on LGBT issues including adoption. Details and timing unclear.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
Follow up: Admin source says LGBT EO could affect federal employee benefits & protections & adoption agencies that receive federal funding
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
More: EO could allow fed employees to refuse to serve LGBT based on belief marriage is b/t man & woman or gender is immutable from birth
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 30, 2017
PoliticusUSA sources confirm Rogin’s report and add that upcoming executive order makes sexual orientation and identification a fireable offense for federal employees and contractors, and would allow adoption agencies and social service agencies that receive federal funding to discriminate against the LGBT community.
The part of the EO allowing federal employees to refuse to serve LGBT individuals based on religious grounds has also been confirmed by multiple sources.
If the Trump administration thought that the backlash to their Muslim ban was severe, they haven’t seen anything compared to what will happen if this Executive Order ever sees the light of day.
It is important to note that although the Executive Order has been drafted, it has not been signed yet.
There is still a chance that the administration will back off if public pressure is severe enough, but Donald Trump clearly intends to take America back to a time when LGBT rights didn’t exist. Trump is preparing an all out assault on the protections and rights that the LGBT community has fought for decades to achieve.
The American people must not allow this to occur.
