SPLC: Trump administration continues to roll back LGBT rights
The following statement is regarding a memo issued by the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to department heads and United States attorneys Wednesday night asserting that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect transgender workers from employment discrimination.
President Trump, who continually touted himself as a "friend" of the LGBT community throughout his campaign, has shown once again that his administration is hostile to the rights of LGBT people in this country and is intent on rolling back our rights and our progress.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ directive expressly withdraws an Obama-era memorandum that interpreted Title VII to protect transgender employees from discrimination, stating that, "Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination encompasses discrimination between men and women but does not encompass discrimination based on gender identity per se, including transgender status."
This position is at odds with the views of a majority of Americans, who believe that LGBT people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, for years, courts have interpreted Title VII to protect transgender workers.
The Trump administration continues to roll back civil rights and other protections for the LGBT community, while allowing anti-LGBT extremists to enact policies that are intended to harm our most vulnerable populations.
