Last Friday, the Trump-Pence Department of Labor issued a directive expanding the circumstances under which federal contractors can claim religious beliefs as a defense for refusing to hire LGBTQ people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In response, DNC Chair and former Labor Secretary Tom Perez issued the following statement:

“The Trump-Pence war against the LGBTQ community never fails to find a way to discriminate against LGBTQ people in every facet of life. They have attacked their health care; they have attacked their right to serve their country; and now, once again, they have attacked their employment opportunity. Our government is supposed to protect the rights of every American. Instead, this administration has used taxpayer-funded federal agencies to enforce their agenda of discrimination and bigotry.

“Our government shouldn’t be in the business of subsidizing hate with taxpayer dollars. This directive is an affront to every LGBTQ federal employee and contractor working to better our great nation. ”