Hoyer, Honda, Polis, & Brady Recommend Anti-Discrimination Policies Protecting LGBT Congressional Employees

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) was joined by Reps. Mike Honda (D-Ca.), Jared Polis (D-Co.), and Robert Brady (D-Pa.) in proposing new guidelines to help Members protect LGBT Congressional staff against discrimination and harassment.  Earlier this month, House Republicans refused to include protections for LGBT employees in the House Rules for the 114th Congress, rejecting requests made by Whip Hoyer in December and Rep. Honda in September to do so.  In a letter last night to their Democratic colleagues, they recommended sample language to be included in individual Members’ employment policies that would ban discrimination and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender employees and promote a safe and inclusive workplace.  Many Democratic offices already have similar policies in place.  

“Under the current House Rules, an employee who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender may be fired, demoted, denied a promotion, or otherwise discriminated against because of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression,” the letter states.  “This remains the case even while hundreds of LGBT individuals employed by the House are advancing the work of the Congress and are playing an important role in helping us serve our constituents.  We must ensure that these hard-working, dedicated Americans can continue to serve our country without fear of workplace discrimination.  In light of House Republicans’ failure earlier this month to propose Rules for the full House that would protect LGBT staff, it is up to each of us as Members to provide a safe and inclusive environment for our LGBT employees.  Without their hard work, we could not as ably conduct the business of the people we are privileged to represent.” 

“It is critical that we demonstrate to our hard-working LGBT employees in the House not only that their work is valued but that they are valued and protected as individuals and as Americans,” Whip Hoyer said.  “I was proud to work closely with my colleagues to develop this sample anti-discrimination policy, and I hope that both Democrats and Republicans choose to put this policy in place for their offices.” 

“It is unbelievable to me that the House of Representatives still allows its offices to discriminate against their employees because of actual or perceived sexual orientations or gender identities. The model policy we are releasing today is a step towards righting this wrong,” said Rep. Honda. “It shows everyone what a fair and equitable policy would look like. In September, I testified before the House Rules Committee for a change in the rules to protect LGBT congressional staff. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership opposed my recommendation. I will continue to look for ways to ensure that the People’s House is a truly equal opportunity employer.”

“Despite growing support for the LGBT community throughout the country, our federal laws continue to lag behind, leaving too many of our friends and family unprotected from discrimination,” said Rep. Polis. “As Members of Congress we can lead by example, and I’m excited that Whip Hoyer, Congressman Honda, and Congressman Brady have taken up the cause to make change in the U.S. House of Representatives. My hope is that many more will take this step while we continue to fight for full equality under the law.”

“While I have had a similar policy in place in my office for some time, and I know that many of my Democratic colleagues have also instituted similar policies, I agree wholeheartedly that anti-discrimination policies that protect LGBT employees should be implemented across the entire House,” Rep. Brady said.  “As Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, I am happy to work with my colleagues in assisting their offices in incorporating this important element into their personnel policies.” 

The sample guidelines can be viewed here, and the full text of the letter is below:

Dear Colleague,

Before the 114^th Congress convened, Democratic Whip Hoyer sent a letter requesting that the Republican Majority amend the House Rules to prohibit discrimination and harassment against LGBT House staff with regard to employment.  Unfortunately, House Republicans chose to exclude that change from its Rules package and to allow current policies to remain in place – policies that run counter to our core values as Americans. 

Under the current House Rules, an employee who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender may be fired, demoted, denied a promotion, or otherwise discriminated against because of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  This remains the case even while hundreds of LGBT individuals employed by the House are advancing the work of the Congress and are playing an important role in helping us serve our constituents.  We must ensure that these hard-working, dedicated Americans can continue to serve our country without fear of workplace discrimination. 

As it stands, Member offices may implement anti-discrimination policies to protect LGBT employees on an individual basis, though many have yet to do so.  The absence of an overarching policy set forth in the House Rules makes it all the more important for Members to outline clear anti-discrimination policies of their own.

To this end, we are attaching a sample workplace anti-discrimination policy that you may find helpful in crafting your office’s response to the Majority’s failure to extend protections to LGBT employees of the House of Representatives.  This policy should help to provide clear guidelines to employers and employees.  We hope you will consider including its protections of LGBT staff among your office’s employment policies. 

In light of House Republicans’ failure earlier this month to propose Rules for the full House that would protect LGBT staff, it is up to each of us as Members to provide a safe and inclusive environment for our LGBT employees.  Without their hard work, we could not as ably conduct the business of the people we are privileged to represent.  Thank you for taking the time to review the attached sample policy and for your continued commitment to America’s core values of equality and equal opportunity.

Sincerely yours,

/s
STENY H. HOYER
Democratic Whip

/s
MIKE HONDA
Member of Congress

/s
JARED POLIS
Co-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus

/s
ROBERT BRADY
Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration