It's a very interesting proposal for getting an ENDA-lite going now, since there's no way we're going to get any progress on ENDA with the GOP in charge of the House. The fact that Jared is going public on this is also interesting - these kind of opinions are usually expressed to the administration quietly behind the scenes, so as not to be seen as pressuring them publicly. Chris Johnson in the Washington Blade:
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) announced support on Monday for an executive order that would protect LGBT people against bias in the workforce by prohibiting the federal government from contracting with companies that don’t have non-discrimination policies based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“I would applaud that step,” Polis said. “I think that would show a lot of courage on behalf of the administration and demonstrate that they’re committed to moving to a discrimination-free workplace environment.”
The executive order endorsed by Polis during a Washington Blade interview has been seen as an interim alternative to passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — legislation that would would bar job discrimination against LGBT people in most situations in the private and public workforce — while Republicans are in control of the House and progress on the measure is unlikely.
