From “A Blueprint for Change” – HRC.org
For the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, the election of a fair-minded president provides vast opportunities to advance equality in material ways on an accelerated timetable. This results not only from new leadership and vision in the White House itself, but from new management of the entire executive branch as well. These agencies recommend and implement policies related to violence, health education and research funding, family benefits and other areas that are critical to the well-being of LGBT people.
Through the power that our Constitution provides the president and executive branch, the incoming Obama/Biden administration can institute much-needed changes in federal policy without congressional action. The president has the power to appoint officials who are receptive to civil rights, and judges who respect fundamental constitutional principles and enforce legal protections for all Americans. The president is also empowered to direct administrative actions that will improve the lives of millions of LGBT people.
- Federal Workplace Non-Discrimination: As leader of our nation’s largest civilian work force, the president may institute non-discrimination, healthcare access and other policies to establish the equal rights of federal LGBT employees.
- HIV and Health: The administration, and its secretary of Health and Human Services can promote honest, accurate information about LGBT people in its public information on HIV/AIDS and other health issues and support a national, comprehensive strategy to fight HIV/AIDS in the United States.
- Hate Crimes and Civil Rights: As head of the nation’s largest law- and civil rights-enforcement entities, the president can appoint an attorney general committed to fighting bias-motivated violence against LGBT Americans, as well as to rigorously enforcing all civil rights protections.
- Federal Fundee Non-Discrimination: The president can ensure that no social service program uses federal funding to discriminate against LGBT Americans. And although the LGBT community celebrates America’s tradition of religious liberty, the president can oppose the use of religious liberty as a proxy for anti-LGBT discrimination.
- Judicial Appointments: A fair-minded judiciary is critical to the civil rights of all Americans. LGBT Americans rely upon the president to appoint judges with a robust understanding of fundamental rights and equal protection, and who respect Congress’ power to enact civil rights legislation.
