Story highlights The order was first signed by Obama

It will continue under Trump, the WH said

Washington (CNN) An executive order protecting federal employees from anti-LGBTQ discrimination that was first signed in 2014 by President Barack Obama will continue under President Donald Trump, the White House said Tuesday.

"President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community," the White House said in a statement. "The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact."

The order extended protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and was predicated on previous executive orders under Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton that created additional protected classes but had not included the LGBTQ community.

The Log Cabin Republicans praised the decision Tuesday, calling Trump "a real friend."

"Donald Trump campaigned promising to be a 'real friend' to the LGBT community, and now President Trump is delivering on that commitment," said Gregory Angelo, president of the Republican LGBT advocacy group. "Log Cabin Republicans is proud to have directly lobbied for this important preservation of LGBT equality in the federal workforce."

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