The White House said Tuesday that it would not diminish protections given to LGBT federal workers and those who work for companies that have dealings with the federal government by then-President Obama in 2014.
Although some conservatives had hoped that the Trump administration would rescind protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the White House said in a statement, “President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election,” The New York Times reported.
“The president is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.”
The statement from the White House stated clearly that the decision to keep Obama’s order intact was the president’s, The New York Times reported.
Gay rights groups appeared unimpressed with the statement, however.
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin accused Trump of setting a low bar when he claimed credit for simply not reversing Obama’s previous executive order, The New York Times reported. “LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims, and women are scared today, and with good reason,” Griffin said. “Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House.”
“LGBTQ people must remain on guard for attacks,” GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said, suggesting that religious exemptions to current laws could, in effect, take away rights the community currently enjoys, according to Reuters.
Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, to be announced at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, could also impact the future of gay rights in the country.
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