Lambda Legal Applauds President Biden’s Quick Action to Strengthen Antidiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ People

Today, on his first day in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued an executive order confirming antidiscrimination protections for all LGBTQ employees and directing all federal agencies to apply the historic Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination wherever federal law prohibits sex discrimination, including in education, housing, credit and healthcare. Bostock v. Clayton County, decided by the Supreme Court last June, confirmed that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is a form of sex discrimination.

Sharon McGowan, Chief Strategy Officer and Legal Director for Lambda Legal, issued the following statement:

“We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s swift action in clarifying that LGBTQ people will be protected from discrimination wherever federal law prohibits discrimination because of sex.  Today’s executive order sends a clear signal from the administration that starting on day one, they intend to return to the rule of law and are committed to enforcing the civil rights of LGBTQ people and we enthusiastically welcome it. The Supreme Court made clear last June that discrimination against someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sex discrimination, and with today’s announcement, LGBTQ people can now have confidence that the federal government will actually defend, rather than resist, our right to be free from discrimination.  We look forward to building a better future for our communities and the Biden-Harris administration should know that they have a partner in Lambda Legal to help make that a reality.”

Read Lambda Legal’s 10 Things LGBTQ People and People Living with HIV Need from the Biden-Harris Administration here.