Labor and Employment
Blog
President Biden Targets Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Through Executive Order
February 11, 2021
Amongst the flurry of other recent executive orders and administrative directives during his first 30 days in office, President Joseph R. Biden signed an executive order seeking to eliminate gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination, and various overlapping forms of discrimination on the basis of multiple protected classes, in federal government departments and agencies. This executive order closely follows on the heels of the Supreme Court’s June 15, 2020, decisions in the Bostock-Zarda-Harris trio of cases, ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
President Biden’s executive order directs federal government departments and agencies to review their programs, policies, and regulations, and develop plans, within 100 days, to revise their practices, policies, and regulations to eliminate gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination within those agencies, including in hiring and all other aspects of employment. The executive order further expressly requires federal departments and agencies to affirmatively combat overlapping forms of discrimination, such as on the basis of race or disability. These directives will likely impact perceptions of employment practices used and adopted in private industry. The resulting policy changes could also serve as important guidance for private employers to follow to ensure legal compliance with Bostock and various anti-discrimination laws.
A copy of the executive order can be found here.
For more information on this topic, please contact Chris M. Mason or another member of the Jennings Strouss Labor and Employment practice.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris M. Mason is an attorney in the Firm’s Labor and Employment practice group.
About Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C.
For over 75 years, Jennings Strouss has been dedicated to providing clients with strategic legal guidance to help them seize every opportunity. The firm is well-known for its rich heritage, commitment to community, and long-lasting relationships. We have a deep understanding of business and law. When you work with us, you’ll have a team of legal experts who are dedicated to your vision of success.
Through our offices in Phoenix, Peoria, and Tucson, Arizona, and Washington, D.C., we leverage resources both regionally and nationally to serve our expanding client base. Jennings Strouss is deeply rooted in each of our locations’ legal and business communities, and is especially instrumental in helping shape the dynamic growth of Arizona and many of its institutions. The firm promotes a pragmatic, results-oriented approach, coupled with a healthy, well-managed, and friendly atmosphere of collaboration.
Our primary areas of practice include advertising and media law; agribusiness; automobile dealership law; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; construction; corporate and securities; eminent domain and condemnation; employee benefits and pensions; energy; estate planning and probate; family law and domestic relations; finance; healthcare; insurance defense; intellectual property; labor and employment; legal ethics; litigation; medical malpractice; mergers and acquisitions; professional liability defense; real estate; surety and fidelity; and tax.
For additional information, please visit www.jsslaw.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
The post President Biden Targets Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Through Executive Order appeared first on Jennings Strouss.