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Trump Administration Slammed for Removing LGBT Employment Protections 'Just in Time for Pride Month'

Looks like Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross doesn't recognize sexual orientation and gender identification discrimination.

In the 2017 Secretarial Policy Statement on Equal Employment Opportunity, Trump’s Department of Commerce removed sexual orientation and gender identity from the list of categories explicitly protected from discrimination, reported Buzzfeed News.

As a result of the changes, many people feel the Trump Administration has no interest in protecting the LGBT community, despite June being Pride Month. 

  • In 2014 and 2016, President Obama's commerce secretary, Penny Pritzker, included them in the statements

    "The Department of Commerce does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40 years of age and over), genetic information, or disability (physical or mental), including the provision of reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities or genetic information."

  • Same with Secretary Gary Locke, Obama's first commerce secretary, in his 2010 statement

    "The Department of Commerce does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40 years of age and over), genetic information or disability (physical or mental), including the provision of reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities."

  • The changes have outraged many people who feel Trump does not care about LGBT people

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