Badpuppy Gay Today

Wednesday, 11 June 1997

The ACLU's-- American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project and The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) hailed the re-introduction in Congress Tuesday of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1997 (ENDA). The bill would prohibit employment discrimination based solely on an individual's sexual orientation. President Clinton has once again given his support to the measure. The legislation is designed to provide meaningful and effective remedies for such discrimination, similar to those under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A similar version of the legislation was defeated last year in the Senate by a vote of 50-49.

The job bias-protection bill drew 150 co-sponsors in the House, led by Republican Rep. Chris Shays of Connecticut and Democratic Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts. The Senate bill has 35 co-sponsors, led by Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, and Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

According to the ACLU, the number of co-sponsors in each house is the highest the bill has ever received. The ACLU helped draft legislation that was first introduced in 1976.

"We are closer than ever to getting this bill passed," said Matt Coles, director of the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. "This legislation would protect all Americans, gay or straight, from being fired simply because of their sexual orientation. It is the right thing to do."

"This bill enjoys widespread popular support, the support of most lawmakers, and the endorsement of our President," Coles said. "Our only obstacle is a handful of fringe politicians who don't share America's vision of a free and equal society."

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a statement which said, "NGLTF joins our civil rights allies in supporting ENDA." The NGLTF said that the message of ENDA is clear and straightforward, namely that discrimination is wrong.

ENDA would add sexual orientation to the current list of federal employment protections that ban discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability. The bill would also prohibit employers with more than 15 employees from using a person's sexual orientation in decisions such as firing, hiring, promotion or compensation.

Contrary to claims made by opponents, the bill would exempt religious organizations and the military, and would not establish preferential treatment or quotas.

Currently, it is perfectly legal to fire someone because of his or her sexual orientation in 39 states..

In the past month, Maine and New Hampshire joined nine other states: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin in outlawing sexual orientation discrimination. These states are "forging a trail," according to NGLTF "on employment and other civil rights bills."

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has thanked the members of Congress who have co-sponsored ENDA, "for their leadership in the quest for social justice." The venerable rights organization founded in 1973 urged other Senators and Representatives to support "the increasing number of supporters for workplace fairness."