New Federal Agency Protects Consumers AND Its Trans Employees

Yesterday, the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published the equivalent of its Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy, which lists gender identity as a protected characteristic. This puts the CFPB in good company as one of more than a dozen Obama Administration federal agencies explicitly listing gender identity as protected in federal employment. NCTE and allies continue to advocate for more agencies to join this trend.

Since January 1, 2010, gender identity has been listed as a protected category in the overall federal EEO policy at Www.usajobs.gov. Transgender federal employees are fully protected government-wide by several laws and Presidential actions including President Obama's June 2009 memorandum that affirms the applicability of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.

While passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is necessary to ensure that transgender people in public and private workplaces are protected, NCTE has advocated that individual federal agencies take this step to show support for their trans employees and job applicants and to make clear that discrimination against these employees is considered sex discrimination.

Según la www.consumerfinance.gov, "The central mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans — whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products."

The CFPB posted employment policy states:

"A Federal agency may not discriminate against an employee or applicant with respect to the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, (including pregnancy and gender identity), age (40 and above), disability, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, military service, or any other non-merit factor. Discrimination on these bases is prohibited by Federal statutes and Executive Orders."