U.S. Senate to vote on Employment Non-Discrimination Act by Thanksgiving

Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate will take up the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) during this work period, which ends just before Thanksgiving.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund:

Thank you Leader Reid for your steadfast opposition of discrimination and support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The vast majority of Americans believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should not have to live in fear of being fired or discriminated against at work because of who they are or who they love. The upcoming ENDA vote is an historic opportunity for all senators to listen to the American people and be on the right side of history.

The lead Democratic sponsor of ENDA, Senator Jeff Merkley released a statement in response to Majority Leader Reid’s announcement:

I thank Majority Leader Reid for committing to bring ENDA to the floor this work period. Americans understand that it’s time to make sure our LGBT friends and family are treated fairly and have the same opportunities. Now it’s time for our laws to catch up. People should be judged at work on their ability to do the job, period.