Winning Equality in Communities We Call Home

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Winning equality in communities we call home.

July 8, 2014

The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States of America The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are leaders of the movement for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and we’re working all across the country, in all the communities we call home, to advance fairness and opportunity.

Over the past six years, we have seen and celebrated your leadership on behalf of LGBT Americans; it has been unprecedented. You have advanced the cause of equality exponentially, and we have never been closer to an America that ensures all people have the same chance to earn a living, take care of their families, be safe in their communities, and pursue health and happiness.

We welcome and applaud your recent decision to prepare an executive order protecting LGBT people from discrimination by federal contractors. This executive order is especially critical in the states that currently lack nondiscrimination laws protecting LGBT people. It will ensure that thousands of hardworking employees are judged on the same terms as everyone else — by their credentials, experience, education, and performance. Additionally, this action will send a strong message about our values as a nation: as Americans, we believe in treating all people fairly, as we’d want to be treated.

We understand that you are under pressure from some groups to include a broad religious exemption in the executive order. One of our nation’s most fundamental values is the free exercise of religion, but religious freedom does not include the right to discriminate against or otherwise harm others.

We ask you to make a clear statement that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is no different from discrimination based on the other classes protected by federal law by ensuring that the executive order not contain any exemption beyond what is provided by the Constitution and Title VII.

Any greater exemption leaves hardworking LGBT individuals at risk of being fired or treated unfairly for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance. Any greater exemption threatens our work in the states to secure critical and comprehensive protections for LGBT employees. Any greater exemption could have serious detrimental effects in the future as this order will likely set the standard for forthcoming state and federal legislation to end discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other aspects of our lives.

America is a land of opportunity, where those who work hard and meet their responsibilities can get ahead and have a chance at a good life. It is not easy or guaranteed, but with hard work, it is possible. This executive order will level the playing field so that hardworking employees have the same opportunity to earn a living, provide for their family, and contribute to society.

Thank you for your leadership in creating an America that is truly a land of opportunity, freedom, and fairness for all.

Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director, Equality Federation Benjamin Cooper, Chair, Equality Alabama Elias Rojas, Board President, Alaskans Together for Equality Rebecca Wininger, President, Equality Arizona Rick Zbur, Executive Director-Elect, Equality California Dave Montez, Executive Director, One Colorado Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Georgia Equality Donald Bentz, Executive Director, Equality Hawaii Bernard Cherkasov, Chief Executive Officer, Equality Illinois Chris Paulsen, Board President, Indiana Equality Action Chris Hartman, Director, Fairness Campaign (Kentucky) Sarah Jane Brady, Executive Director, Forum for Equality (Louisiana) Lizzy Jenkins, President, Louisiana Trans Advocates Elise M. Johansen, Executive Director, EqualityMaine Carrie Evans, Executive Director, Equality Maryland Kara Koredini, Executive Director, MassEquality Mason Dunn, Executive Director, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition Emily Dievendorf, Executive Director, Equality Michigan Monica Meyer, Executive Director, OutFront Minnesota AJ Bockelman, Executive Director, PROMO (Missouri) jane heenan, MS MFT, Co-Director, Gender Justice Nevada Luanne Peterpaul, Board Co-Chair, Garden State Equality (New Jersey) Amber Royster, Executive Director, Equality New Mexico Nathan Schaefer, Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda (New York) Pauline Park, Chair, New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA) Chris Sgro, Executive Director, Equality North Carolina Elyzabeth Holford, Executive Director, Equality Ohio Shane Morgan, Chair, TransOhio Troy Stevenson, Executive Director, The Equality Network (Oklahoma) Jeana Frazzini, Executive Director, Basic Rights Oregon Ted S. Martin, Executive Director, Equality Pennsylvania Ryan Wilson, Executive Director, South Carolina Equality Coalition Lawrence Novotny, Chair, Equality South Dakota Christopher Sanders, Executive Director, Tennessee Equality Project Dr. Renee McLaughlin, President, Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition Chuck Smith, Executive Director, Equality Texas Katy Stewart, Executive Director, Transgender Education Network of Texas Brandie Balken, Executive Director, Equality Utah Sheryl Rapée-Adams, Chair, Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force James Parrish, Executive Director, Equality Virginia Monisha Harrell, Board Chair, Equal Rights Washington Tobi Hill-Meyer, External Director, Gender Justice League (Washington) Kay Flaminio, Executive Director, Fairness West Virginia Katie Belanger, President & CEO, Fair Wisconsin Jeran Artery, Chairman, Wyoming Equality