One step closer to federally-protected LGBT rights in the workplace

Normally, I get my Thursday post fodder from the Wiggity Wiggity Wonky Wednesday edition of Cracked Magazine. Hard hitting stuff like “7 Dick Moves Everyone Pulled in Classic Video Games” and “The Worst Imaginary Friends to Be Stuck With.”

But, for today’s post, I read this newspaper called the Washington Post. I dunno. Must’ve sprung up overnight. 

One its writers, Ruth Tam, writes here that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has cleared a bipartisan Senate committee:

Three Republicans, Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Ala.) and the bill’s original co-sponsor, Mark Kirk (Ill.) joined 12 Democrats to quickly approve what committee chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) called “historic legislation.”

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act currently makes it unlawful for employers to engage in sexual stereotyping. Introduced back in April and in every session of Congress save one since 1994, ENDA would expressly prohibit employers 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.

Ms. Tam’s article notes that committee member, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), opposed ENDA, but offered three amendments to the bill:

In his opening remarks, he suggested providing more guidance for employers operating at shared facilities, a better definition of “transitioning” individuals and the elimination of a provision added in the manager’s amendment to allow cases to proceed when employers have legitimate reasons for certain employment decisions.

According to the article — Tam’s piece, not “6 Animals Clearly Disguised as Candy (A Drunk Column)” — a full vote on ENDA in the Senate is expected sometime in the Fall.

Image Credit: Wikipedia