Jarrod Scarbrough and Les Sewell — the gay couple urging President Obama to sign an LGBT-inclusive executive order at this morning’s Egg Roll at the White House — told MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts this morning that the measure could shield their family from anti-gay discrimination. The decree, which would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity, has been rubber stamped by the Labor and Justice Departments and is now awaiting approval from the White House.
“Jarrod works for a company that the government contracts through, and we live in New Mexico — we’re actually protected, we don’t have to worry too much about being discriminated against. However, in June we’re moving to Florida where that protection, we’ll no longer have that,” Sewell said. “Without this administrative action, Jarrod could lose his job and then where would this family be?” Watch it:
Last week, a group of 72 lawmakers led by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) called on Obama to sign the measure. “This order would extend important workplace protections to millions of Americans, while at the same time laying the groundwork for Congressional passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a goal that we share with you,” the lawmakers wrote, noting that the initiative would also build on President Johnson’s Executive order “prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
As a candidate in 2008, Obama committed to supporting a “formal written policy of non-discrimination that includes sexual orientation and gender identity or expression … for all Federal contractors.” Meanwhile, over 100,000 have signed a Freedom To Work Change.org petition urging the President to take action.