Senate Passes LGBT Workplace Anti-Discrimination Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a bill last week that would provide workplace protections to gays, lesbians and transgender individuals.

The so-called “Employment Nondiscrimination Act” passed the Democratic-led chamber on a 64 to 32 vote.  Arizona Sen. John McCain and Utah’s Orrin Hatch were among the ten Republicans who supported the measure.

The bill would make it unlawful for employers to discriminate based on a person’s “actual or perceived” sexual orientation or gender identity. Federal law already bans discrimination based on a person’s race, gender or religion. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act would add an individual’s sexual orientation to those protected categories.

It is unlikely, however, that the bill will become law because it faces steep opposition in the Republican-led House of Representatives. We will follow the votes and keep you apprised of any developments.