LGBT Issues @ the Briefing: ENDA and DADT
In LGBT news from today’s White House press briefing transcript:
Q: One of the President’s goals has been the passage of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which barred job discrimination against gay and transgender Americans. That’s going to be a challenge with Republicans in control of the House. One idea that’s being proposed as an interim alternative is an executive order that would bar the federal government from doing businesses with companies that don’t have their own workplace protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Would the President be open to issuing this executive order?
MR. CARNEY: Well, I don’t want to speculate about what action he may or may not take. His position is known. And again, he does not shy away from obstacles when he approaches an issue that’s important to him. But I don’t have a — I’m not going to speculate about what measure he might take.
Q: In a similar vein, as you move forward with “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal, is the President open to issuing an executive order to ensure that LGBT service members have legal recourse if they feel that they’ve experienced discrimination in the U.S. military?
MR. CARNEY: Again, I don’t have — I don’t want to say what he may or may not be open to. What I do know is that repeal is going along on schedule and successfully, and he is very closely monitoring that. And — but more than that I do not have.
Q: But do you see any impediment — legal, political, or otherwise — to prevent the President from issuing either of these executive orders?
MR. CARNEY: Those kinds of questions about legal impediments are best addressed to lawyers, and I am not one.
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