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September 05, 2007

U.S. House holds hearing Wednesday on Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The U.S. House of Representatives began hearings Wednesday on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act with a variety of witnesses, from House members to guest experts, scheduled to speak.

The federal bill would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Such legislation has not been introduced in Congress since 1996. Currently, protections vary by state. In 31 states it is legal to fire employees because they are gay; in 39 states employees can be fired for being transgender.

House members Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) will testify in favor of the bill. Also scheduled to testify in support were M.V. Lee Badgett, a scholar affiliated with the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles; and University of Colorado professor Helen Norton, among others; while Washington attorney Larry Lorber is expected to speak against the bill.

This would be the first hearing on ENDA, as the bill is known, since the 1990s. (The Advocate)

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