“Today President Obama once again took action to root out discrimination in our workforce, this time by issuing a very welcome and much-needed executive order that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against workers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). This executive order is an important advance for fairness and for families.

Equal opportunity is the most fundamental of American values and we all lose when discrimination is allowed to continue. The federal contractor workforce employs more than one in five private sector workers in this country, so today’s action will have a real impact by promoting fairness and strengthening businesses, our economy and our country.

The nation needs Congress to pass a strong, inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to put an end, once and for all, to the shameful days when discrimination against LGBT workers is legal. Today’s action is a critical step and Congress should take the next one by passing ENDA.”