President Donald Trump has falsely been claiming his new NAFTA trade deal, which he calls “USMCA,” is the “most advanced trade deal in the world.” It’s not. But progressives had been pleased to find that, thanks to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at least it mandated stronger protections for LGBTQ workers.
American Republican lawmakers were furious, calling the passage “inappropriate and insulting,” and pressed the president to get rid of them.
He did, via a footnote that negates the LGBTQ provisions, as LGBTQ Nation reports.
GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis notes the protections are “effectively nullified by a footnote,” and says Trump “caves to anti-LGBTQ activists and squanders the United States’ status as a leader in LGBTQ equality.”
So, what exactly happened?
The final language already had been watered down from what Canada wanted.
Here’s the draft language, before it was watered down:
“The Parties recognize the goal of eliminating sex-based discrimination in employment and occupation, and support the goal of promoting equality of women in the workplace. Accordingly, each Party shall implement policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex, including with regard to pregnancy, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, gender identity, and caregiving responsibilities, provide job-protected leave for birth or adoption of a child and care of family members, and protect against wage discrimination.”
It’s now been watered down, and to further neutralize it, this footnote was added:
“The United States’ existing federal agency policies regarding the hiring of federal workers are sufficient to fulfill the obligations set forth in this Article. The Article thus requires no additional action on the part of the United States, including any amendments to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in order for the United States to be in compliance with the obligations set forth in this Article.”
There now are no new protections, and no strengthening of protections.
Image by The White House via Flickr