Supreme Court Ruling Highlights Need for Clarity on DOI Protections for LGBTQ Employees

In December, HuffPost reported that the Department of Interior removed references to sexual orientation from the agency’s ethics guide regarding workplace discrimination. National Parks Conservation Association called for Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to immediately restore protections for LGBTQ employees.

In light of today’s welcome news that the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed legal workplace protections for LGBTQ employees, NPCA is renewing our call for Secretary Bernhardt to ensure these protections are in place at Interior.

Statement of Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association:

“The National Parks Conservation Association applauds today’s tremendous news that the Supreme Court has affirmed the rights of LGBTQ people not to face discrimination at work on the basis of their identity. In light of this landmark legal victory for LGBTQ people around the country, it is critically important for the Interior Department to affirm these protections for its LGBTQ employees.

"The staff at the Department of Interior should continue to be as diverse as the places and stories they work to safeguard. We are calling on Secretary Bernhardt to make it clear that he will protect them all.”

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About The National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.4 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.