If Senator Harry Reid’s predictions are right, then the Senate may finally vote on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
In 2007, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban workplace discipline based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Though it made it through by a vote of 235–184, the Senate hasn’t voted on it in almost six years.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was reintroduced in this Congress by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said earlier this week that he expects the bill to be addressed soon.
Reid made a statement as part of a celebration of June as LGBT Pride Month, noting that Nevada was one of the states that has an employment non-discrimination law in place.
“I look forward to taking up the Employment Non-Discrimination Act soon to prohibit such job discrimination across the nation,” Reid said.
“Our nation is made stronger by its diversity. I remain committed to ensuring that all Americans are treated equally, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other irrelevant factor.”
Photo: www.reid.senate.gov
What the heck? This statement is exactly what the conservatives have been saying for years, get rid of the EEO Commission and laws they are unconstitutional…“Our nation is made stronger by its diversity. I remain committed to ensuring that all Americans are treated equally, regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other irrelevant factor.”
Does Reid even know that Affirmative Action is at the Supreme Court?
I look forward to the day when we can include visible tattoos in the non-discrimination category.
Yeah that ain’t going to happen any time soon. It’s hard enough convincing people that something which is not elective (sexuality) needs legal protection. Convincing conservatives that something elective (tattoos) shouldn’t be grounds for not getting a job will be a nonstarter. Though, I suppose considering more and more people are getting tattoos now, it might not be a big deal eventually.
I say this as someone who’s got 8 tattoos and who is about to get a full sleeve (or maybe half sleeve…not quite made up my mind)…so yeah.
£10 says it doesn’t make it to the House floor to be voted on there…or if it does, it doesn’t pass. Not with this House, anyway.