WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today on his first day in office shortly after being sworn in, President Biden issued an executive order directing all federal agencies to implement the decision in Bostock v. Clayton County issued by the U.S. Supreme Court this past summer. The 6-3 ruling found that LGBTQ people are protected against employment discrimination under existing civil rights laws that prohibit sex discrimination.
Biden's action means the landmark ruling — which was also the first-ever civil rights victory for transgender people at the Supreme Court — will now extend to every federal agency's application and enforcement of all federal laws that prohibit sex discrimination, including employment, housing, credit, education, and more.
Kasey Suffredini, CEO and national campaign director of Freedom for All Americans, the campaign to secure LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections nationwide, issued the following statement:
"President Biden's historic directive to federal agencies to implement the Bostock ruling brings Americans one step closer to a country where all of us, including LGBTQ people, are treated with basic dignity and respect. This action will immediately improve the lives of 11 million lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and 1.5 million transgender Americans by ensuring equitable enforcement of our federal statutes prohibiting discrimination in employment, education, housing, and credit. But the work is not done until Congress updates federal law to codify these protections and make explicit - and permanent beyond this Presidential Administration - that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination in all areas of daily life. We urge Congress to work swiftly with President Biden to finish the job by passing explicit federal legislation like the Equality Act in order to bring our nation closer to America's promise of freedom for all."
President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and House Speaker Pelosi have all pledged to make passage of the Equality Act one of the top priorities of the 117th Congress. The Equality Act would ensure explicit and uniform LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections nationwide in virtually all areas of life — including protections in public places like restaurants and stores and most federal funding. These are areas of life that were not reached by the Bostock decision but where LGBTQ people experience substantial harm and discrimination. Additionally, President Biden is expected to overturn the ban on transgender individuals in the U.S. military in the coming days.
Freedom for All Americans is the bipartisan campaign to secure full nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. Our work brings together Republicans and Democrats, businesses large and small, people of faith, and allies from all walks of life to make the case for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally.
From National LGBTQ Task Force:
ea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force:
"Today, we saw newly elected President Biden sign executive orders that exemplify the kind of leadership and breadth of understanding of what we face as a nation and as a community.
From racial equity to fair immigration policies to specifically combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, the Biden-Harris administration clearly understands that there exist chasms of disparity for so many of us. These actions rightly begin to immediately address the over-arching crises of the pandemic, the economy, and the clear and present danger of white supremacy, while leading the way to address the many ways diverse communities face disparities on every level.
It is of great significance to the LGBTQ community that on their first day in office, this administration has made it clear that discrimination has no place in the federal government. The recent Supreme Court decision "Bostock v. Clayton County" was a tremendous step forward for LGBTQ Americans. Today's executive order takes us a step further — building on the Bostock decision to ensure that these protections extend to all federal agencies. We look forward to the day when President Biden will sign the Equality Act, which will amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and the jury system.
These far-ranging executive orders are just the beginning of our work to restore democracy to its full potential and humanity to our government. The Biden-Harris administration and we all must be focused on change, progress, bringing Americans together, and a determination to remain bold in our shared pursuit of a better, more just country.
The LGBTQ+ community once again has a place at the table and offers us an opportunity for progress on all fronts and a commitment to leave no one behind. It is time to truly embrace the diversity and inclusion of LGBTQ people in every aspect of our nation's political, economic, racial and social fabric.
Immigration is an LGBTQ issue. Racial equity and justice is an LGBTQ issue. Economic disparities are LGBTQ issues. Reversing the Muslim ban is an LGBTQ issue. Protecting DREAMers is an LGBTQ issue.
From the nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, to the diverse staff appointments at all levels in the Biden-Harris administration, LGBTQ+ people will be bringing their talents and expertise to solving the challenges facing our country. The National LGBTQ Task Force looks forward to working with the administration to make progress for LGBTQ+ people and our families in all areas of our lives."
