By: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

The White House confirmed early Tuesday in a press statement that President Trump will continue to enforce an Obama-era executive order protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees in the workplace.

“President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community,” said a statement from his press secretary’s office. “President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election.”

The administration further stated “President Trump is proud to have been the first GOP presidential candidate to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, “pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.”

“The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump,” said the White House statement.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, then candidate Trump promised to protect the rights of the LGBTQ community during his speech at the Republican National Convention in July.

As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” said Trump, as he officially accepted the GOP nomination.

The Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin released the following statement following the White House confirmation of LGBTQ protections in the workplace.

“President Trump is setting a “low bar” by not overturning his predecessor’s order. LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims and women are scared today, and with good reason. Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House.” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. “Donald Trump has left the key question unanswered — will he commit to opposing any executive actions that allow government employees, taxpayer-funded organizations or even companies to discriminate?

Griffin further criticized Vice President Pence and Trump’s selection for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), by saying…”The president talks a big game on his support for LGBTQ people, yet he has filled his cabinet with people who have literally spent their careers working to demonize us and limit our rights.

You can’t claim to be an ally when you send LGBTQ refugees back to countries where their lives are at risk. You can’t claim support and then rip away life-saving services made possible through the Affordable Care Act for transgender people and those living with HIV or AIDS. You can’t be a friend to this community and appoint people to run the government who compare being gay to bestiality,” said Griffin.

Again, we must remember that President Trump is not your ordinary president and he is not governed or controlled by the religious extremists in the GOP. Let us give this president a chance to see what else he will be doing for LGBTQ rights in our great country.

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