House Bans LGBT Employment Discrimination

A huge win for the LGBT community. Three big changes with the new Democratic controlled House of Representatives include a ban on discrimination for staffers and jobseekers.

When the 116th Congress met for the first time on Thursday, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a package of rules that will govern the legislative body’s operation for the next two years.

Three major changes differentiate this year’s House rules package: a ban on members serving on corporate boards, a requirement that members take ethics training every year and a ban on employment discrimination against LGBTQ staffers and jobseekers. The rules package was pushed by Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., one of eight openly LGBTQ lawmakers in the House.

“Government at its best works for the benefit of all Americans, not just the powerful and privileged,” Cicilline said in a statement. “Protecting the rights of LGBT employees is just the right thing to do.”

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152 LGBT elected officials have priorities

The list is short but crucial. Hopefully good things can get done despite the White House Circus.

More than 150 LGBT elected officials penned a letter released this week calling on the incoming Congress to prioritize four LGBT equality initiatives.

Those initiatives include protecting trans constituents from "anti-trans Trump administration policies," passing federal legislation to protect the rights of LGBT people, focusing on HIV/AIDs treatment — particularly in communities of color — and supporting asylum claims from queer people around the world.

The 152 elected officials penned the letter, which [was] delivered to the 116th Congress, during a conference last week. The gathering was hosted by Victory Institute, an advocacy organization focused on training and supporting LGBT political candidates.

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