Pence told ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos during an interview aired Sunday that `in the patriot`s heart, there`s no room for prejudice`.

The White House on Tuesday released a statement saying an executive order signed by Barack Obama to protect LGBT federal workers against discrimination would remain in place. A draft order had been circulating, outlining plans to overturn the 2014 protections.

A conservative group leader questioned the White House`s decision to uphold the measures, saying it was `an issue of religious liberty`.

Stephanopoulos asked Pence about the criticism, prompting the vice-president to support Trump`s stance.
`I think throughout the campaign, President Trump made it clear that discrimination would have no place in our administration,` Pence said.

`He was the very first Republican nominee to mention the LGBTQ community at our Republican National Convention and was applauded for it. And I was there applauding with him.`

The vice-president further praised Trump`s message.

`I think the generosity of his spirit, recognizing that in the patriot`s heart, there`s no room for prejudice, is part of who this president is,` Pence said.

Obama`s executive order 11478 dates back to July 2014. It prevents federal contractors from discriminating based on a person`s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The order also added on to existing measures for federal employees, who were already protected against discrimination against sexual orientation. It ensured they couldn`t be discriminated against based on their gender identity as well.

`The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J Trump,` the White House`s statement released Tuesday reads.

Politician and activist Bob Vander Plaats, the CEO of social conservative group The Family Leader, questioned Trump`s decision to keep the anti-discrimination measures in place.

`Our base would want to know who is responsible for what we believe is an issue of religious liberty — that would be of concern to us,` Vander Plaats told the New York Times.

`We have been consistent. We`ve cheered President Trump a lot. But on this one, our base is wondering why Obama`s executive order would be allowed to stand?`

Pence however insisted that Trump`s decision to uphold Obama`s executive order was in line with his message during the presidential campaign.

He also emphasized Trump`s `reiterated commitment to religious liberty` and said it would be up to the president to determine whether further executive action was necessary in that area.

/Fox News/

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