OFCCP Observes Transgender Awareness Week
November 13 marks the start of Transgender Awareness Week, during which transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the transgender community and advance advocacy to address the prejudice, discrimination, and violence the community faces.
On Transgender Awareness Week, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs honors the courageous champions and allies who have tirelessly advocated on behalf of the transgender community for full equality in all spheres of life. OFCCP proudly works to ensure equal employment opportunity for LGBTQ+ workers.
The transgender community faces numerous challenges, including in the workplace. According to a recent report by the Williams Institute, nearly half (48.8%) of transgender employees reported that they experienced workplace discrimination in hiring or firing. The same report describes that 36.4% of transgender employees engage in covering behaviors to avoid harassment or discrimination at work, including changing their physical appearance and changing when, where, or how frequently they use the bathroom.
In March, President Biden became the first President to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility, calling upon all individuals to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people. On day one of this Administration, President Biden issued Executive Order 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. In that executive order, President Biden stated:
Discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation manifests differently for different individuals, and it often overlaps with other forms of prohibited discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race or disability. For example, transgender Black Americans face unconscionably high levels of workplace discrimination, homelessness, and violence, including fatal violence. It is the policy of my Administration to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and to fully enforce Title VII and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. It is also the policy of my Administration to address overlapping forms of discrimination.
OFCCP is committed to eliminating discrimination against transgender workers and promoting inclusive workplaces. OFCCP enforces Executive Order 11246, which since 2014 has explicitly prohibited federal contractors from discriminating against job applicants and employees based on gender identity and sexual orientation. OFCCP is also exploring a method for voluntary self-identification to solicit and record information for people who have a non-binary gender identity.
OFCCP will continue to work diligently to better understand and address the challenges faced by transgender jobseekers and workers, and to help federal contractors build workplaces that are more inclusive. OFCCP’s resources for contractors and workers on gender identity discrimination include:
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