President Trump promises LGBTQ worker protections but many activists still leery

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he will not roll back federal workplace protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer workers.

This preserves a 2014 executive order by President Obama. The directive protects people from LGBTQ discrimination while working for federal contractors.

But even after Trump’s statement, many in the gay community are still skeptical and even fearful about losing their rights.

The White House issued its statement, responding to growing speculation and suggestions that the President might roll back LGBTQ rights:

“President Donald J. Trump will continue to enforce executive order protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community in the workplace. President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights, just as he was throughout the election. The President is proud to have been the first ever GOP nominee to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression. The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.”

“This is actually an historic moment we have today,” said Log Cabin Republicans president Gregory Angelo. “A Republican President who promised to be a real friends to the LGBTQ community is following through on that promise and he deserves praise for that.”

With Republican control of the White House and Congress, Angelo believes LGBTQ advocacy now must appeal to the center right.

“Liberals are out protesting things that have not even happened,” he said.

Most gay rights organizations - including the Human Rights Campaign - are still leery of the Trump administration and promising to continue their protests alongside other progressive minority groups.

Instead of celebrating Trump's statement, HRC held a demonstration on Tuesday, reiterating its opposition to many of Trump's cabinet picks and executive orders.

“LGBTQ people are women. We are Muslims. We are immigrants. We are refugees,” HRC president Chad Griffin shouted to applause from the crowd of staffers and supporters gathered outside his organization’s headquarters.

“We are not going to give up one inch of progress that we've made and we want to see what's next,” said Jodee Winterhof, HRC’s senior vice president for policy & political affairs.

But across the gay community, reaction to Trump's statement is mixed.

“[Trump] should be respected for his decision-making,” said Phil Calinda.

Grant Feeney said, “For not messing up a good thing, that doesn't get my applause.”

“It's a good thing,” said Franklin Jones. “But do I think it erases everything he's said in the past? No.”

Activists add they will be watching closely to see who the President nominates for the Supreme Court, with marriage equality and other LGBT rights being targeted by conservatives.

That nominee, if confirmed by the Senate, will have a say in potential court challenges to marriage rights. The Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage in 2015, but efforts are underway in some states to try to restrict the scope of the decision.