U.S. DOL Announces Rule to Protect Workers from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Extends to workers employed by federal contractors, subcontractors

A new rule prohibiting discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity in the federal contracting workforce was announced on Dec. 4 by the U.S. Department of Labor. The rule implements Executive Order 13672, which was signed by President Obama on July 21.

EO 13672 tasked the department with updating the rules implementing EO 11246 to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the classes it protects. While 18 states, the District of Columbia, and many businesses, large and small, already offer workplace protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees, July’s executive order was the first federal action to ensure LGBT workplace equality in the private sector.

The final rule will become effective 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register and will apply to federal contracts entered into or modified on or after that date. More information is available here.