[JURIST] US President Donald Trump [official website] vowed [statement] on Tuesday to continue to enforce the executive order instated by Barack Obama that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people working in federal institutions and contracts. A statement [NYT report] was issued by the White House to address growing concerns that Trump would reverse previous policy. “President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The president is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.” Concern remains despite White House statements. Human Rights Campaign [advocacy website] President Chad Griffin said [press release] “Claiming ally status for not overturning the progress of your predecessor is a rather low bar. … Donald Trump has done nothing but undermine equality since he set foot in the White House.”

Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity has been controversial in the US. North Carolina has faced national focus for its “bathroom bill” [JURIST report] that requires individuals to use the public bathroom associated with the sex listed on their birth certificate. In November a judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ruled [JURIST report] that Title VII’s protection from employment discrimination based on sex extends to sexual orientation. In June two gay men filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] challenging a Tennessee law that protects counselors who refuse to provide services to individuals based on their religious beliefs.