U.S. House Takes Historic Step by Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

[ruggerson]

Source: YubaNet

In an historic step toward equality, the U.S. House of Representatives successfully passed today the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA. The vote, 235 to 184, marks the first time ever that either chamber of Congress has passed employment protections based on sexual orientation.

"Today, we witnessed the making of civil rights history in the U.S. House of Representatives by the passing of ENDA," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This vote by Congress is an important step at ensuring that millions of gay and lesbian Americans will never again have to go to work in fear of losing their jobs because of who they are."

In 31 states, it is currently legal to fire someone based on their sexual orientation. In 39 states, it is legal to fire a person for being transgender.

The Human Rights Campaign helped introduce ENDA 13 years ago to prevent workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. This year, for the first time, HRC and allies on the Hill included gender identity in the bill to also protect transgender workers. One month ago, House leadership made it clear that Congress did not have the votes to pass HR 2015, which prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This week, House Rules Committee reported out Congressman Frank's HR 3685, a bill that protects only sexual orientation, to the floor.



Read more: http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_69856.shtml

[flpoljunkie]

1. A good start for equality for all. nt

[BadgerKid]

2. Does this cover the armed forces? (n/t)

[NMDemDist2]

3. too bad they threw the transgender folks under the bus

:sigh:

but half a loaf is better than nothing i guess :shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

6. They are betraying the LGBT community

We are all in this together, even if some motherfuckers that have been in the Beltway for too long take such a cavalier attitude about our community.

[Faygo Kid]

4. Not veto-proof, and of course W will veto

However, it will probably die in the Senate. Still, it's a start.

[rodeodance]

8. bush has already said he would veto it.

[IndianaGreen]

5. A fatally flawed bill that should be defeated

Shame on Pelosi, Barney Frank, and that idiot Joe Solmonese for supporting a bill that shattered the LGBT coalition.

[UncleSepp]

7. Forgive me if I don't celebrate.

"This vote by Congress is an important step at ensuring that millions of gay and lesbian Americans will never again have to go to work in fear of losing their jobs because of who they are."... but the lesser numbers of gender non-conforming Americans can go scratch, we got ours, screw you.

Leaving out gender expression from the bill fucks EVERYONE. Can't fire a lesbian for being a lesbian? That's okay - fire her for "looking like a man"! That's still legal. Fire her for not wearing makeup, or for having short hair, or wearing comfortable shoes. Oooh, I'm really feeling the solidarity now.