News

Log Cabin Supports Legislation to Guarantee Fairness for Federal Employees

Anti-Discrimination Measure Proposed in Response to Scott Bloch's Failure to Do His Job as Special Counsel

June 30, 2005

(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans support newly introduced legislation to guarantee anti-discrimination protection for federal employees. The bipartisan legislation introduced today would clarify existing law to guarantee complete enforcement of prohibitions against anti-gay discrimination in the federal government. "Special Counsel Scott Bloch is a rogue official who's unwilling to do his job. Congress should step in to make sure federal employees receive the protection they have enjoyed for 30 years," said Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero.

This bipartisan legislation has several Republican co-sponsors including Chris Shays (CT), Mark Foley (FL), and Jim Kolbe (AZ). "This legislation would deal once and for all with Scott Bloch's blatantly false assertion that gay and lesbian federal employees have no protection from discrimination. Members of Congress should stand up for basic fairness and support this legislation," said Log Cabin Political Director Chris Barron.

The Office of Special Counsel, led by Scott Bloch, has the responsibility for protecting federal employees from discrimination. Unfortunately, for more than a year, Bloch has refused to do his job. First, he ordered the removal of any references to sexual orientation discrimination from the Office of Special Counsel's website and printed materials. Last month, in testimony before the United States Senate, Bloch said that he did not believe current law protects federal employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Bloch's assertion flies in the face of 30 years of precedent and openly defies an executive order supported by President Bush. "Long standing federal policy prohibits discrimination against federal employees based on sexual orientation," the White House said in a statement last year. "President Bush expects federal agencies to enforce this policy and to ensure that all federal employees are protected from unfair discrimination at work."

After his testimony last month, Log Cabin called on Scott Bloch to resign. "This legislation sends a clear message: federal employees shouldn't be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. It shouldn't take congressional action for Scott Bloch to actually do his job. He should be ashamed of himself," concluded Guerriero.

As part of Log Cabin's decision to endorse President Bush in 2000, the campaign pledged to Log Cabin that non-discrimination policies for federal employees would be respected. Log Cabin would not have endorsed Bush without this promise.