Are LGBT Rights Next? Trump Admin's Executive Orders Puts Activists on Alert

"First they came for the Muslims...."

LGBT activists are receiving mixed messages from the White House this week leaving many concerned that the sweeping anti-immigrant and anti-muslim executive actions signed by President Trump, could hit hit the LGBT community next.

The alert was raised Monday when a Tweet by Washington Post Columnist and CNN contributor Josh Rogin set off alarm bells for many.

Fears were further stoked on Monday, when White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer sidestepped an answer from Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson who asked a question about the rumored anti-LGBT executive action.

"I'm not getting ahead of the executive orders that we may or may not issue," Spicer said. "There's a lot of executive orders, a lot of things the president has talked about and will continue to fulfill, but we have nothing on that front now."

The Human Rights Campaign issued the following statement on Monday in regards to the rumored anti-LGBT executive action.

"The rumors of an anti-LGBTQ executive action by President Trump are deeply troubling. We already know that he is willing to target and marginalize at-risk communities for his perceived political gain. As the President and his team plan their next steps, we want to make one thing clear: we won't give one inch when it comes to defending equality, whether it is a full-on frontal assault or an attack under the guise of religion. Mike Pence should know that better than anyone given his track record in Indiana," said JoDee Winterhof, the Human Rights Campaign's Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. "The Human Rights Campaign will stand with those who have already been targeted by this Administration and are prepared to fight tooth and nail against every effort to discriminate."

And while details on any potential anti-gay executive action remain murky at best, it appears as though LGBT employees of federal contractors can breathe a sigh of relief.

The New York Times reports that the Trump administration plans to leave in place president Obama's order that extended workplace protections for LGBT workers employed by federal contractors.

"President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of L.G.B.T.Q. rights, just as he was throughout the election," a statement sent out by the White House on Monday read. "The president is proud to have been the first ever G.O.P. nominee to mention the L.G.B.T.Q. community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression."