Federal government implements SOGI protections

The U.S. Department of Labor yesterday issued a rule expanding discrimination protection to cover sexual orientation and gender identity for federal contractors.

The rule implements President Barack Obama’s July 21 executive order, according to a news release.

“No one should live in fear of being fired or passed over or discriminated against at work simply because of who they are or who they love," U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said in the release. “Laws prohibiting workplace discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity are long overdue, and we're taking a big step forward today to fix that."

The rule, which becomes effective 120 days after its publication in the Federal Register, applies to new or modified contracts with the federal government that exceed $10,000.

Antidiscrimination rules already existed for federal contractors in the categories of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability and status as a protected veteran, according to the release.

According to the Labor Department, 18 states, Washington, D.C., and many businesses already offer sexual orientation and gender identity protections. Missouri is not one of those states.

In Springfield, City Council in October approved a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protections in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations. However, after petitioners successfully entered a referendum petition opposing the decision, council tabled the measure, effectively sending it to voters on April 7, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.