Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
Four Senators have introduced a bi-partisan bill that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identify. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA) (S. 1584), introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), would prohibit employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and joint labor-management committees from firing, refusing to hire, or discriminating against those employed or seeking employment, on the basis of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity. In June, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.
In a press release, Sen. Collins said of this bill: “Similar to the current law in several states, including Maine, and the policies of many Fortune 500 companies, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act would close an important gap in federal civil rights laws by making it illegal to discriminate in employment based on sexual orientation.”
Although House versions of ENDA have failed in the past, momentum is building in Congress to enact more expansive civil rights legislation. This latest bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.