A bill that prohibits workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people gained bipartisan approval in the Senate on Thursday.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), the lead Republican cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, joined the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in supporting the bill more than 10 years ago.
“… Over the years, we have rightly taken a stand against workplace discrimination in a wide variety of forms, and it is past time that we close this gap for LGBT employees,” Collins said.
ENDA prohibits employers from not hiring, firing or discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation, or their perceived sexual orientation.
Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), along with Collins, led Republican support of the bill.
“All Americans deserve a fair opportunity to pursue the American dream,” Collins said. “ENDA is about the fundamental right to work and the right to be judged based on one’s abilities, qualifications and talents. Much of corporate America has already voluntarily embraced LGBT protections because they know that doing so allows them to retain and attract the best and brightest employees.”
Approximately 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have sexual orientation non-discrimination policies in place.