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#Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The Problem

Qualified, hardworking Americans are denied job opportunities, fired or otherwise discriminated against just because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). There is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from employment discrimination; there are no state laws in 29 states that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and in 32 states that do so based on gender identity. As a result, LGBT people face serious discrimination in employment, including being fired, being denied a promotion and experiencing harassment on the job.

What is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act?

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would provide basic protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. ENDA simply affords to all Americans basic employment protection from discrimination based on irrational prejudice. The bill is closely modeled on existing civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill explicitly prohibits preferential treatment and quotas and does not permit disparate impact suits. In addition, it exempts small businesses, religious organizations and the military.

Public Support

Supermajorities of Republicans and Democrats back ENDA. More than 2/3 of voters - including a strong majority of Republicans - support a federal law protecting LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace, according to a September 2013 poll by Republican pollster Alex Lundry. Majorities in each of the 50 states, according to statistical modeling, are on board.

States Experience and Corporate Support

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have passed laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and 18 states and D.C. also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Although these laws provide important protections, according to a 2013 General Accounting Office (GAO) report, relatively few complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation have been filed in these states.

Hundreds of companies have enacted policies protecting their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. As of April 2013, 434 (88 percent) of the Fortune 500 companies had implemented non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation, and 282 (57 percent) had policies that include gender identity.

What is the Current Status of the Bill?

ENDA is yet to be introduced in the 114th Congress.

Learn More about ENDA

Learn More about LGBT Workplace Issues