NEW YORK (AP) — Attorney General William Barr has ordered the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons to investigate allegations of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.
The Justice Department released a letter Friday announcing the investigation in response to concerns from DOJ Pride. The organization represents thousands of LGBTQ employees at the Justice Department and its component agencies.
DOJ Pride cited an internal survey and said complaints included LGBTQ recruits at the FBI academy facing discrimination and different evaluation standards. The group raised concerns gay agents are dismissed from the academy "because they are not 'bro-y' or masculine enough."
Members said it is hard for gay member and transgender employees to work at the Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI and Bureau of Prisons didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.