Posted on Nov 9, 2015
Sexual Orientation added to Army EO protections, thoughts?
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EO= stops discrimination of ethnicity, national origin, gender, race, religion... And now sexual orientation.
Gay, lesbian and transgender soldiers who experience in-service harassment or discrimination because of their sexual orientation can now seek redress through the Army’s Equal Opportunity Program.
A directive, No. 2015-39, adding sexual orientation to the service’s military EO Program was issued Oct. 14 by John McHugh, the outgoing secretary of the Army.
A follow-on directive, No. 2015-40, provides guidance and implementing procedures for civilian employee anti-harassment policy. It was issued by McHugh Oct. 30, just hours before his tenure as Army secretary expired.
Together the directives provide detailed guidance to soldiers, employees, commanders and supervisors for addressing unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as race, color, national origin, religion or sex.
Under procedures now in effect, units are required to publish command policy statements on equal opportunity that indicate sexual orientation can be the basis of discrimination complaints.
The guidance calls for discrimination complaints by soldiers to be promptly investigated in a fair, impartial manner, and are appropriately resolved without the complainants facing reprisals, intimidation or retaliation.
Commanders also are required to make sure that complainants and the subjects of a complaint are provided feedback information about the status and outcome of the complaint.
The 10-page anti-harassment policy directive for civilian employees, and the commanders and supervisors of employees, is largely based on laws, many of them recently amended, dealing with equal employment opportunity in the federal government.
Key sections of the directive:
• Define harassing conduct.
• Establish a system of accountability for ensuring a workplace free of unlawful harassment.
• Outline employee rights and responsibilities.
• Provide procedures for reporting harassment.
• Require periodic anti-harassment training.
Gay, lesbian and transgender soldiers who experience in-service harassment or discrimination because of their sexual orientation can now seek redress through the Army’s Equal Opportunity Program.
A directive, No. 2015-39, adding sexual orientation to the service’s military EO Program was issued Oct. 14 by John McHugh, the outgoing secretary of the Army.
A follow-on directive, No. 2015-40, provides guidance and implementing procedures for civilian employee anti-harassment policy. It was issued by McHugh Oct. 30, just hours before his tenure as Army secretary expired.
Together the directives provide detailed guidance to soldiers, employees, commanders and supervisors for addressing unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as race, color, national origin, religion or sex.
Under procedures now in effect, units are required to publish command policy statements on equal opportunity that indicate sexual orientation can be the basis of discrimination complaints.
The guidance calls for discrimination complaints by soldiers to be promptly investigated in a fair, impartial manner, and are appropriately resolved without the complainants facing reprisals, intimidation or retaliation.
Commanders also are required to make sure that complainants and the subjects of a complaint are provided feedback information about the status and outcome of the complaint.
The 10-page anti-harassment policy directive for civilian employees, and the commanders and supervisors of employees, is largely based on laws, many of them recently amended, dealing with equal employment opportunity in the federal government.
Key sections of the directive:
• Define harassing conduct.
• Establish a system of accountability for ensuring a workplace free of unlawful harassment.
• Outline employee rights and responsibilities.
• Provide procedures for reporting harassment.
• Require periodic anti-harassment training.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
Absolutely CPT L S, I believe hazing is one of the challenges which is why this change had to occur.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
As usual you are spot on CSM! How can we be a free country and equal opportunity employer if we restrict who can serve? Other than those medically or legally who can't but I'm mean gender or sexual orientation wise!
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SGT Kevin Allen
It should, unfortunately I've had heated discussions with former Soldiers, that they took an oath, maybe decades ago, to protect every American, NO Matter what, and to be a Veteran, you still uphold that oath, you may not be able to carry your brother or sister that 100 meters anymore, but you can try.
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This shouldnt have even been a discussion. Equal opportunity means just that; EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND PROTECTION TO EVERYONE. No ifs, ands, or buts.
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I am surprised it took this long to update the AR 600-20. I wonder why.
I would think that would have been done almost immediately after the DADT repeal.
I would think that would have been done almost immediately after the DADT repeal.
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PV2 (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) - Work has been keeping me pretty busy lately along with some side projects!
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