Administration Moves To Remove
Gay Protections
From Federal Labor Contracts
by Paul Johnson,
365Gay.com from the Web, September 22, 2004
Washington -- The Bush
administration has begun working to remove hard won protections for gay and
lesbian workers from civil service labor contracts.
In several contracts negotiated over the past few months the list of categories
that are protected has been replaced with the more nebulous phrase "any class
protected by law." While the change will mean
little to African Americans or other minorities, it effectively removes LGBT
workers from being protected from being fired or harassed on the job.
"One of the reasons from my perspective is they're doing this because there is
no federal law protecting gays," Rob Sadler, a spokesperson for Federal Globe an
organization of LGBT federal workers, told 365Gay.com.
The most recent instance is at the Social Security Administration where
negotiations are underway for a new contract. SSA
is is trying to remove specific language protecting its employees from
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The labor contract changes comes six months after the office of Special Counsel
which investigates and prosecutes federal government employment discrimination
came under fire for saying it would not investigate claims of sexuality
harassment.
Special Counsel, Scott Bloch, a Bush appointee, said in February that his
interpretation of a 1978 law intended to protect employees and job applicants
from adverse personnel actions is that gay and lesbian workers are not covered.
Bloch said that the while a gay employee would have no recourse for being fired
or demoted for being gay, that same worker could not be fired for attending a
gay Pride event.
In his interpretation, Bloch made a distinction between one's conduct as a gay
or lesbian and one's status as a gay or lesbian.
After intense pressure from Federal Globe and from Democrats on The Hill, the
White House said it would honor an Executive Order signed by President Clinton
that has been used to defend gay workers.
Now, by weakening the wording in labor contracts the Executive Order and the
1978 Civil Service Reform Act, the White House has effectively reversed itself.
The move drew an immediate condemnation from Democrats Tuesday night.
"I call on President Bush to intercede and protect the hard-working employees of
the Social Security Administration," DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe told
365Gay.com.
"Unfortunately, if Bush's record of divisive politics is any indicator, he will
ignore this problem and fail us once again. If
Bush's appointees within the SSA are successful in removing this protection,
then other agencies are sure to follow and gay and lesbian Americans would have
no legal recourse to fight against wrongful discrimination."
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