The first United States president to sign a law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in federal benefits was **President Joe Biden**. On January 20, 2021, he signed **Executive Order 13988**, which amended Executive Order 11246, issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal contracting. This order also extended the protections of Executive Order 13672, issued by President Barack Obama in 2014, to all federal agencies and programs.
Executive Order 13988 was a significant step forward in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. It ensures that all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have equal access to federal benefits and services.