It’s Time to ENDA Discrimination
Bobby Crew
“People shouldn’t need to be worried about being fired from their job just because of who they love or who they are,” says Jared Polis, member of the House of Representatives for Colorado’s 2nd congressional district. “That’s a fundamental American value and this bill will help catch up our laws to where many Americans already are.”
Thus, the fight continues to make LGBT individuals a protected class nationwide, and Congressman Polis is on the case, pushing for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to pass. (ENDA would offer protection from discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This would protect people from harassment on the job, being fired, or being denied employment or promotion due to being LGBT.)
ENDA has already passed in the Senate, but has been awaiting a vote in the House where 218 signatures are needed to force the vote.
“The Senate passed ENDA over a year ago,” Congressman Polis tells Out Front. “We’ve been trying to convince Speaker Boehner to bring it to the house floor since then. Now — just today — we launched this new procedural tactic to try and force a vote on ENDA. The House of Representatives has refused to bring it forward for a vote despite us having over 200 cosponsors of the bill. So we are launching what’s called the Discharge Petition, which is a way of requiring the Speaker to bring it to the floor for a simple up-or-down-vote where we are confident it will pass and help people not be fired from their job because of who they love.”
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is on board with ENDA, as well as the Discharge Petition. “Leader Pelosi has been a steadfast supporter of LGBT equality,” says Congressman Polis. “She is helping actively as leader of the Democrats in the House to make sure my colleagues sign the Discharge Petition. Coloradans need to hold their politicians accountable that it’s not enough to simply say they support employment non-discrimination,” he continues. “Representatives have to put their name on the dotted line and actually try to bring the bill up for a vote.”
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