Sexual Orientation excluded from the Non-Discrimination Policy and Equal Opportunity Program.
Last month in Washington, D.C, an announcement was made that President, Barack Obama, plans to sign an executive order banning workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees of federal contractors. The American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation’s largest organization of LGBT military spouses and their families, called upon the Administration to also ensure these same protections will be granted to gay and lesbian service members.
With the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) and the signing of the new Department of Defense (DoD) Human Goals Charter, the DoD still excludes sexual orientation from the official non-discrimination policy and equal opportunity program; as a result this leaves thousands of gay and lesbian service members at risk of workplace discrimination within the DoD.
“While it’s great news that LGBT federal contractors will soon be protected, it is far past time to include sexual orientation in the Defense Department’s non-discrimination policy for uniformed troops and not just civilians,” said Stephen Peters, president of AMPA and spouse of an active duty Marine.
Peters stated that this exclusion provides a road block for LGBT military spouses and their families from fully integrating and accessing benefits and support services available to them without the fear of discrimination.
AMPA has repeatedly pointed out the need to include sexual orientation in the DoD non-discrmination policy and equal opportunity program through the list of “Top Needs of LGBT Military Spouses and Their Families” submitted to the DoD Military Family Readiness Council.
The American Military Partner Association (AMPA) is the nation’s largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of LGBT service members and veterans. Founded and led by same-sex military partners in 2009 as the Campaign for Military Partners, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our modern military families.
More information: www.MilitaryPartners.org