Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., asked Congress today to pass a job discrimination bill that would protect LGBT employees
from bias in the workplace. This would be the first such law of its kind.
The Employee Nondiscrimination Act would prohibit employers from taking an employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity into account when making decisions about hiring, firing, promotions or pay. The House passed a similar bill in 2007, but it died in the Senate and could have faced a veto from President George W. Bush.
But this time, President Barack Obama supports the bill. That, and a democratic majority in Congress lead Frank to believe that the bill has a greater chance of passing this time.
Baldwin told The New York Times it was time ”to bring our laws in line with the reality of American life.”
Opponents say the wording is unclear and would create unnecessary court proceedings.
Twenty-one states already prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 12 states also ban discrimination based on gender identity.
— Theresa Bruskin
