November 8, 2008
The Obama-Biden Transition team has included both sexual orientation and gender identity in its non-discrimination policy for applicants for employment in the incoming Obama administration.
Although President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 11478, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, there are no explicit federal protections from gender identity bias in government hiring.
"By including sexual orientation and gender identity in its non-discrimination policy, the Obama-Biden transition team makes clear that it will focus on the relevant qualities that actually predict an applicant's success on the job - professional experience, character, skills and education," said Christopher Anders, Senior Legislative Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union. "President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden, by explicitly rejecting the bigotry and intolerance of the past, are committing that gay, lesbian, and transgender professionals can serve in government without fear of discrimination."
"In light of the Obama transition team's inclusion of both sexal orientation and gender identity in its hiring policies, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is hopeful that the next Congress will pass a gender-identity inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act," said Council President Rand Hoch.
To view the Obama-Biden Transition Non-Discrimination Policy, click here.