WASHINGTON – In response to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) gaining bipartisan approval from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee today, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan released the following statement:

“Today’s vote is an exciting step forward on the road toward full equality for LGBT Americans.  All employees deserve to be judged by their qualifications and work performance rather than by who they are or who they love.  ENDA is common-sense legislation that would establish employment protections for LGBT workers nationwide.

“There’s no question that protecting the rights of LGBT workers is the right thing to do, but it also increasingly reflects the values of most Americans. A majority of Americans support ENDA and they know that all hardworking people should have the same shot at earning a living and contributing to our economy and our country. And yet without ENDA, in 29 states it is currently legal to fire someone for being gay – and in 33 states for being transgender or gender non-conforming. 

“The far Right is already clamoring that passing ENDA would lead to everything from sexual assault to the end of religious freedom in our country.  But in reality, this legislation is the right thing to do and a no-brainer that all of Congress should be able to support. Workplace discrimination of any kind is not the American way.”

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