House Measure Would Undermine Obama's LGBT Executive Order

A House committee on Thursday approved an amendment to a defense spending bill that would undermine an executive order prohibiting LGBT discrimination among federal contractors.

President Barack Obama's 2014 order prohibits contractors doing more than $10,000 a year in business with the federal government from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The amendment approved this week was introduced by freshman Rep. Steve Russell (pictured), a Republican from Oklahoma.

It would allow “any religious corporation, religious association, religious educational institution or religious society” doing business with the U.S. government to skirt Obama's requirements.

According to the Washington Blade, the House Armed Services Committee approved the measure with a 33-29 vote. Two Republicans, Joe Heck of Nevada and Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, joined Democrats in voting against the measure.