Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed an executive order banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically for employees of federal contractors.
Admittedly, the step in itself is small. Employees of federal contractors represent a fraction of the work force; congressional legislation would be required to enact this policy across the private sector (it is already in place for government workers). However, Obama’s motion has strengthened both of his roles as a progressive leader and LGBT supporter, and, if they weren’t before, his intensions to end all forms of LGBT discrimination are clear now.
I, along with many other Americans, am very proud of our President, because very few times in our history have we seen a leader like him. Even in recent times, LGBT causes have not been supported by the majority, and to see a democratically elected leader take so many steps towards making this country better for members of the LGBT community is thrilling.
“It is clear what Obama is doing for the LGBT community is invaluable.”
The thrills don’t come without their chills, though. Hearing some of the rhetoric from those opposed to these measures is in a way disturbing. On FoxNews.com, an opinion piece entitled “Obama’s LGBT Executive Order endangers religious liberty” appeared recently after the executive order was made. Now, I’m definitely here for religious liberty. Probably, all of us are — except maybe the author of this article, Todd Starnes, who probably isn’t opposed to the idea of a theocracy.
At one point, Starnes includes a quote from Americans United for Separation of Church and State which reads, “Religious groups have no right to accept taxpayer money and engage in rank forms of discrimination … Faith-based groups that tap the public purse should play by the same rules as everyone else and not expect special treatment.” He criticizes it by replying with “But that’s really not the point. This is about the federal government bullying religious groups that hold viewpoints it deems inappropriate.”
No, Todd Starnes. That really is the point. “Of the people, by the people, for the people” doesn’t have any asterisks or exceptions. You can’t expect to be paid with taxpayer dollars (from Christians, LGBT people, Atheists, Muslims, Tea Partiers and Socialists) and retain some perverted “right” to discriminate based on any factors to do with personal identity.
And, honestly, that’s only the beginning of the point. Business and religion are separate institutions, so to think that you, as an employer, are exercising any religious liberty when you deny the job application of someone whose sexual identity your religion deems sinful or invalid is ludicrous. Furthermore, refusal to pay for your employee’s (who has rights of her own) birth control over your religious beliefs is equally baseless (sorry, SCOTUS).
In light of these opposers’ sentiments, it is clear that what the Obama administration has been doing for the LGBT community is invaluable. Many would like to think that because some businesses are privately owned they should, with, in this case, the excuse of rights to religious liberty, have the right to discriminate over issues of personal identity, and I fear that without protective measures from the government, we would witness many more instances of discrimination of this brand. So, yes, it excites me to no end when I see bigotry stopped in its tracks, and in this case, the one hitting the brakes is our President, Barack Obama. With this order, he is again adding himself to a group of great men and women who are helping to pave the way for a greater America, and for that I say, “Thanks, Obama.”
Reid Black is a sophomore biochemistry major from Pascagoula.
