Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a bill pending before Congress that would prohibit employment discrimina¬tion on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. ENDA creates express protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people similar to those available under existing federal discrimination laws for other protected classes of workers. America prospers when all are given basic protections for economic and job security: ENDA is a critical piece of legislation to help ensure job security for millions of people and their families in the United States.

Recent History on ENDA’s Consideration in Congress

While we garnered tremendous momentum in 2009, the year ended without passing ENDA and securing workplace discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. The Task Force, along with partner organizations, continues to ardently push Congress to pass a fully-inclusive ENDA. In December of 2009, the House Committee on Education and Labor postponed a mark-up of ENDA. Several organizations, including the Task Force, issued a joint statement to expressing outrage over the postponement and urged Congress to continue moving forward with ENDA after the stall. Read the statement here.

On Nov. 5, the Task Force submitted testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's hearing on ENDA, on the heels of testimony submitted to the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor Sept. 23, 2009.

That was the last time there was any action taken on ENDA. We are rapidly approaching three years since the last time ENDA was discussed in Congress. Currently, the Task Force and its allies are pressing for more hearings and movement on ENDA.