Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Signs Executive Order Protecting LGBTQ State Employees

MILWAUKEE — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, responded to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers’ executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity against state employees.

“Discrimination in any form is wrong, and through his actions today — signing his first executive order since taking office — Governor Evers continues to demonstrate that he will fight day in and day out to uphold the Wisconsin values of fairness, justice and equality,” said HRC Wisconsin State Director Wendy Strout. “We were proud to turn out LGBTQ voters in November to help elect Evers, and thank Fair Wisconsin for their ongoing work to end anti-LGBTQ discrimination across our state. We look forward to working with the Evers Administration and Fair Wisconsin to pass legislation that will finally safeguard protections for transgender Wisconsinites, who are still denied basic and explicit protections from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public spaces.”

Wisconsin is one of 28 states without explicit non-discrimination protections on the basis of gender identity. State Representatives Mark Spreitzer and JoCasta Zamarripa and Senator Tim Carpenter have introduced the Privacy Protection and Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that would add gender identity and expression to Wisconsin’s pre-existing nondiscrimination protections, including in employment, housing, public spaces, and education.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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