Governor Nixon issues Executive Order 10-24

Dear Equality Supporter;

What an exciting week! I’m thrilled to announce that, just days ago during the National Conference of the NAACP in Kansas City, Governor Jay Nixon issued Executive Order 10-24. This Executive order extends employment protections to LGBT persons working in the Executive Branch of Government of the State of Missouri, requires the Executive Branch to file an annual workplace diversity plan and encourages adoption of the same protections for LGBT employees by all branches of Missouri Government. You can view the full text by clicking here.

Folks, this is huge. Approximately 58,000 Missourians are employed in state government. But beyond this, nearly every state with current statewide protections in employment, housing and services for the LGBT community has had a state employee provision in place before enacting statewide protections for all citizens. This Executive Order sets a strong example for our other elected officials to follow. Further, it makes Missouri more competitive in the corporate sector, where 95% of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation/gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.

PROMO’s work, both with officials inside the Nixon administration and in public calls for such a change, coupled with your many calls, postcards and emails to the Governor’s office over the last year and a half, made this happen. Governor Nixon issued the following statement:

“I want to ensure that Missouri remains true to the principles of ensuring equal opportunity for all people, and this Executive Order fulfills a pledge I made to have a more inclusive and diverse state workforce. The State of Missouri will work to ensure that there will be no vestiges of discrimination, not only in employment practices but also in providing services and in operating our facilities.”

Those of you who read my emails know that I have been very vocal in my frustration with the Governor since he took office 18 months ago. However, at this point I hope you will join me in feeling proud that, today at least, he is helping to move Missouri forward.

In equality,

A.J. Bockelman
Executive Director