January 20th, 2021
Media Contact: Denise Spivak, CEO
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Phone: 954-765-6024
Email: denise@lgbtcenters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Immediately after taking the Oath of Office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to implement the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic Bostock v. Clayton County decision. The ruling declared anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, thus illegal in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It has wide-reaching implications, setting a precedence in all laws against sex discrimination.
The executive order will also instruct agencies to take lawful steps to make sure that federal anti-discrimination statutes that cover sex discrimination prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, further protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ persons.
In addition to the executive order expanding on the Bostock decision, President Biden also announced executive actions to work toward advancing racial equity, to reverse the Muslim travel ban, and to protect DREAMers.
“This administration is acting quickly to ensure issues that are significant to our country – including those affecting the LGBTQ+ community – are addressed”, said CenterLink CEO Denise Spivak. “Today’s actions indicate that this administration will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We look forward to the day when comprehensive federal protections like the ones outlined in the Equality Act are signed into law”.
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CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers. Founded in 1994, CenterLink plays an important role in addressing the challenges centers face by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity, access public resources, and engage their regional communities in the grassroots social justice movement. www.lgbtcenters.org