Obama Expanding Gay Rights with Executive Order

President Barack Obama is praising an executive order he plans to sign soon that expands protections for federal lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers.

"In the United States of America, who you are and who you love shouldn't be a fireable offense," he said at the Democratic National Committee's annual LGBT gala in New York City Tuesday night.

The new order will bar federal contractors from discriminating against anyone based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"You know sometimes you guys were a little impatient. Sometimes I had to say, 'Will you just settle down for a second? We've got this.' But because of your help, we've been able to do more to protect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community than any administration history," Obama said.

The executive order has been drafted and awaits his signature. It's still unclear when Obama will sign it and if there will be a religious exemption.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has asked the White House to include those exemptions. Religious leaders warn if there's no exemption, some Christian and Jewish charities may be forced to violate their faith or withdraw from federal contracts.

At the gala, the president also urged those in attendance to put pressure on Congress to pass legislation that would extend protections further to the LGBT community.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed in the Senate last month, but has stalled in the House. The ENDA is a broader measure than the president's order that includes religious exemptions.