THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
STENY H. HOYER
January 26, 2015
Dear Colleague: Sample Workplace
Anti-Discrimination Policy
Dear Colleague,
Before the 114th 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 counterto our
core values as Americans.
Underthe 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 LG3T employees of the
House of 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
LG3T 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 commitrnent to America's core values of equality and equal opportunity.
Sincerely yours,
Is
STENY H. HOYER
Democratic Whip
Is
MIKE HONDA
Member of Congress
Is
JARED POLIS
Co-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus
Is
ROBERT BRADY
Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration
THE SAMPLE GUIDELINES ARE ATTACHED AND CAN ALSO BE VIEWED HERE.
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