Last week, President Obama issued an Executive Order prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Federal contractors or federally-assisted contractors and subcontractors who do over $10,000 in government business in one year are subject to this executive order.

With the new language federal contractors must comply with the following:

  • The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
  • The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
  • The contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

Religiously affiliated contractors continue to be allowed to favor individuals of a particular religion when making employment decisions, but only related to the association’s mission. Such organizations are otherwise required to comply with the order.

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