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WATCH: Tammy Baldwin Tells John Boehner 'Just Bring ENDA Up for a Vote'

WATCH: Tammy Baldwin Tells John Boehner 'Just Bring ENDA Up for a Vote'

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The nation's first openly gay senator has a message for the Republican speaker of the House.

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Wisconsin senator Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay person to be elected to the U.S. Senate, offered a direct message to the man in charge of the House of Representatives -- where she served from 1999 to 2013 -- regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Speaking with MSNBC Thursday afternoon just moments before casting her final vote in favor of ENDA, Baldwin delivered a straightforward plea to the Republican speaker, who has said he believes ENDA would lead to "frivolous litigation" and hurt small businesses, and also incorrectly claimed that it was already illegal to fire people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"On the procedural side, I'd say what we said during the shutdown: Just bring it up for a vote," the senator demanded. "Because I feel that the House, if given the opportunity to vote up or down against discrimination in employment, against the LGBT community, that we'd win that vote. We'd win that day. And so that's what I'd say to Speaker Boehner: Just give it an up-or-down vote."

Watch Baldwin's message to Boehner on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports Thursday afternoon below:

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Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.
Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.