D.C. Recap of Last Week's Key Facts
By Kerry Eleveld
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid92498.aspA few key points emerged last week amid the whirl of activity regarding transgender federal workers, "don't ask, don't tell," and counting gay couples in the U.S. Census.
-John Berry, the highest-ranking LGBT official in the Obama administration, said the presidential memo that President Obama signed last week does extend protections to transgender employees of the federal government. The memorandum directed Berry's agency, the Office of Personnel Management, to issue guidance to all executive branch departments and agencies regarding complying with civil service laws, which according to White House, "make it unlawful to discriminate against federal employees or applicants for federal employment on the basis of factors not related to job performance." Berry confirmed in several interviews, including one with National Public Radio, "That is going to allow us to extend protections to transgender employees." Gays and lesbians were already protected by an executive order that had been signed by President Bill Clinton.
