Transgender rights advocates took to HuffPost Live this week as pressure on President Barack Obama to sign an executive order which would extend Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) protections to federal contractors continues to mount in Washington.
If signed, the executive order will provide workplace protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. Still, many U.S. citizens are confused as to the extent of discriminatory practices which LGBT people face when they're not protected under such regulations.
"Discrimination can take many forms," Sarah McBride, Special Assistant for the Center for American Progress, said. "Discrimination can take the form of not being promoted or harassment in the workplace. It can also take the form of a culture of fear."
Noting that ENDA would help many LGBT workers who experience discrimination related to work benefits, promotions and salaries, she added, "You have LGBT people who are keeping themselves from being able to participate in entire fields and entire fractions of our economy because they're afraid they would be subject to discrimination."
CLARIFICATION: The original version of this article implied that Obama was being pressured to sign ENDA. Instead, he faces pressure to sign an executive order that could potentially extend ENDA protections to federal contractors.
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