Washington, D.C. — Earlier this week, the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Act restating the LGBT-inclusive Executive Order of July 21, 2014. The Executive Order narrowly amended Executive Order 11246, first issued by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, and prohibits companies contracting with the federal government for $10,000 or more in a single year from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment. The amendment stated that no funds made available by the Act may be used in contravention of Executive Order 11246.

60 Republicans voted in favor of the amendment, including the 7 House Republicans who are on record in support of marriage equality — Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Charlie Dent (R-PA), David Jolly (R-FL), Richard Hanna (R-NY), Bob Dold (R-IL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) and Chris Gibson (R-NY).

Despite bi-partisan passage, the White House has issued a veto threat to this critical, necessary legislation.

“It’s time for President Obama to ask himself — and for the American people to find out — what’s truly the priority for his administration: government spending or non-discrimination for the LGBT community,” Log Cabin Republicans National Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo stated. “In the midst of this gridlocked Congress, bi-partisan support for the LGBT community has been passed — with the votes of 60 Republicans, no less! The President has a tremendous opportunity to show the Republicans who control both the House and the Senate that he is interested in working with them in good faith to advance common-sense legislation, as well as the LGBT community of his commitment to non-discrimination. A veto of the THUD Act would call both into question.”