DOJ’s LGBTQ employee group shuts down after three decades
The board of DOJ Pride, founded in 1994, told members that the decision was made “in the interest and for the protection of all members.”
Cowards. Do not comply in advance. The group started in an arguably more LGBT hostile environment 30 years ago. Have some spine and make them work to shut you down. Trying to hide from them isn't going to help you, they're going to come after you regardless. You might as well go down fighting and maybe get some wins instead of only losses.
If they don’t comply, everyone involved gets purged from the DOJ. Then those most capable of supporting and providing information to their coworkers will no longer be there at all. If they comply, they can still support those around them. Though it is admittedly more difficult without the work sponsored organization.
There will probably be other efforts to purge LGBT people from government, but they don’t have to hand them a reason to fire them by refusing to comply with the EO.
You may be right that it is cowardice, but I think that is unlikely. Judging by what I’ve seen at other government organizations, the employee resource groups end, but those most involved have given contact information out to fellow employees to get support and assistance outside of work. And that isn’t regulated, so it’s not breaking any of the rules.
The one advantage to getting fired over something like that, is it would provide standing to challenge it in court. I’m sure that will happen somewhere though.