Parental discrimination not advised, Clinton says

President Clinton issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting workplace discrimination against parents in the federal government.

The order authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to develop guidance that prohibits discrimination against employees based on their status as parents. It amends Executive Order 11478, which originally prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Federal regulations already prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender and more. The new order adds parental status to the list.

Under the order, parents are defined as biological, adoptive, foster, step or custodial.