While progress continues to be made for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, a new poll from Gallup and Healthways reveals that LGBT adults report lower financial, physical, social and community well-being scores (according to their index, which uses data from 1.9 million surveys, measuring people’s overall mental and emotional health).

In June of this year, President Barack Obama introduced a new executive order that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against potential employees due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Although a step in the right direction to helping raise the financial well-being and workplace security of LGBT individuals, this executive order will only last as long as Obama is in office.

Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in Congress would turn the principles of Obama's executive orders into an actual law that would prevail after his administration. Currently, the law passed the Senate 64-32, but Republican House Speaker John Boehner still refuses to bring ENDA to a vote on the house floor.

Although this executive order – and the possibility of the ENDA law –ostensibly focuses on a more financial aspect of well-being, the spirit of inclusiveness that is inherent in the policy would be the first step in paving the way for more overall LGBT acceptance.