Washington, D.C. — TechNet, the national,
bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today
urged a joint House-Senate conference of the Armed Services Committees to remove a section of the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4909 and S. 2943) that
would legally sanction discrimination against Americans on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity.
In a letter sent to the Chairmen and Ranking Members
of the Senate and House Committees on Armed Services, TechNet President and CEO
Linda Moore wrote: “We fear that
this language would nullify Executive Order 13672, President Obama’s landmark
order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual
orientation in hiring by federal contractors, and legally sanction
discrimination against LGBT Americans.”
“The
technology industry is the nation’s most innovative sector precisely because it
values and embraces a talented and diverse workforce. Unfortunately, Section 1094 undermines these
values by placing prejudice and fear above inclusion and diversity, which is
bad for our employees and bad for business.”
“To
ensure that our nation’s economy remains robust and innovative, we must support
the best and brightest people. While
Section 1094 might intend to promote religious freedom and liberty, in reality
it sanctions discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender
identity, which has no place in our country.”
TechNet has engaged in North Carolina,
Massachusetts, and other states to advocate for policies that promote equal
protection of employees under the law.
The
text of the letter follows.