A leaked memo from the Justice department reveals that the Trump administration may roll back some anti-discrimination rules, reported the Washington Post.
The memo reportedly asked senior civil rights officials how “disparate impact” rules could be changed or removed and what the impact would be. Similar action is also being considered by the Education Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Disparate impact rules allow certain actions to be considered discrimination, even if that was not the intent.
These rules protect marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ community. Civil rights activists said this possible rollback could have huge consequences.
“Disparate impact is a bedrock principle,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Through the courts, we’ve been able to marshal data and use the disparate-impact doctrine as a robust tool for ferreting out discrimination.”
LGBTQ rights group responded to the memo in a statement, condemning the administration.
“Either the Trump administration is blissfully ignorant or just simply unwilling to understand the depth of discrimination that exists in the United States,” said the president and CEO of GLAAD, Sarah Kate Ellis. “But one thing is certain: if you are a part of a marginalized community, President Trump wants nothing to do with you. These attacks on LGBTQ and other marginalized people must stop.”
According to GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project, this is the 88th attack the Trump administration has made on the LGBTQ community.