Repeated attempts to get a meaningful LGBT anti discrimination bill passed in Congress have failed over the past two decades. Now, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has announced his plans to introduce a “landmark” anti-discrimination bill that would not only apply to employment practices, but also extend to areas including public accommodations, housing, jury service and financial transactions.
“It can’t be right that people are thrown out of their rental housing because of their LGBT status or can be denied entry to a movie theater or to a restaurant,” the senator explained. “That simply is wrong and we need to take on this broader agenda.”
Merkley’s intention is to seek bi-partisan support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – which actually passed the Senate in 2013 by a margin of 64-23, but that bill was never put to a vote in the House.
It is interesting to note that even though no federal LGBT anti-discrimination law currently exists, one poll found that about 87 percent of Americans thinks it does.
Currently, 21 U.S. states prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and 18 of them - as well as the District of Columbia - also include gender identity.
The bill faces an uphill battle among Republicans who have traditionally opposed similar legislation. House Speaker John Boehner and other conservatives have argued that such laws are an “unnecessary” solution to the problems facing the LGBT community.
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