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UPDATE - Missing Information for Government Employees on Sexual Orientation and Rights

MISSING reported that, in February 2004, a newly appointed official of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (Scott J. Bloch) removed references to sexual orientation from a website designed to educate government employees about their rights. The official said he ordered the references removed because he was unsure if federal law protected workers discriminated against because they were lesbians, gay men, or bisexuals. Elaine Kaplan, who served as Special Counsel from 1998 to 2003, told the Washington Post: "It seemed to us that this was well-established law. Part of the job of the agency is to educate employees about their rights."

April 8, 2004:
The Office of the Special Counsel announced that: "The OSC believes that the materials currently on its Web site are consistent with the view of the law . . . but intends to review and revise those materials as necessary to ensure that employees are fully aware of the protections provided." However, a visit to the Office of the Special Counsel's website on April 22, 2004 found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation had still not been placed back on the site. Race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicapping condition, marital status, or political affiliation remained [See http://www.osc.gov/ppp.htm#q8]

Congressional members involved: Barney Frank (D-MA), George Miller (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY).

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