(Washington D.C.)- The U.S. House of Representatives today approved a measure to end employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.  The bill, H.R. 3996, the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, was approved by a vote of 235-184.  The act would prohibit employment discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans.  Similar legislation has been introduced in the House since the 1970s, but this is the first time the bill has reached the Floor of the House of Representatives.

“This day is long overdue,” said Rep. Sander Levin.  “Freedom from discrimination in the workplace is a simple concept really.  One should be judged by the quality of his or her work, not by skin color, not by age, not by disability, and of course, not by sexual orientation.”

Under the legislation, employers with 15 or more employees would be barred from firing, refusing to hire, demoting, refusing to promote, or otherwise discriminating against workers on the basis of sexual orientation.  Thirty states permit employers to discriminate against employees based solely on their sexual orientation, and no federal law prohibits such discrimination today. A 2007 study found that 16 percent of lesbians and gay men reported being fired or denied a job because of sexual orientation.

Many leading employers have already adopted non-discrimination policies.  Nearly 9-in-10 Fortune 500 companies have policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for reasons of fairness and competitiveness.

 “I very much regret that the Bush Administration is threatening to veto this legislation,” said Rep. Levin.  “In 1990, the first President Bush signed the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, which barred workplace discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities.  It is unfortunate that the current Bush Administration has chosen not to build on this progress.” 

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