EDITORIAL: Sin of Omission

President Obama has signed many executive orders when Republicans in Congress persisted in blocking sound legislation. Yet he has inexcusably refused to issue an executive order banning discrimination by federal contractors based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Such an order, which would have applied to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people working for or seeking jobs with employers with federal contracts, had support from the Labor and Justice Departments, gay rights activists say. It should have been an easy call for Mr. Obama, who supports long-stalled legislation that would prohibit this type of discrimination by all employers.