Trump to keep LGBTQ federal workplace protections introduced by Obama

President Trump will not overturn the federal workplace protections for LGBTQ employees introduced by former President Barack Obama, the White House announced Tuesday morning. Before Trump's announcement, it was unclear if the policy signed in 2014 blocking federal contractors from discriminating against LGBTQ employees would stay intact, as Trump moves to dismantle much of Obama's work. When White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked at Monday's press briefing if the policy would remain in place, he said he didn't "know the answer."
But on Tuesday the White House indicated Trump is "determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community." "President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election," the White House said in a statement. "The president is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression."
However, The Associated Press noted, the Human Rights Campaign remains unconvinced of Trump's "commitment to LGBTQ rights." HRC President Chad Griffin noted Trump has "left the key questions unanswered," including whether he will oppose executive actions that "allow government, taxpayer-funded organizations or even companies to discriminate."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Discriminating against DACA students'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Epstein: A boon for Democrats?
Feature Democrats' push to release the Epstein files splits the GOP, sending the House into an early summer recess
-
Hulk Hogan
Feature The pro wrestler who turned heel in art and life
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement