Congressman Mike Coffman on Wednesday
signed on as a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA), which seeks to prohibit workplace discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity.
Coffman joins six other Republican
House members who have co-sponsored the measure. Rep. Tom Reed
(R-N.Y.) has also voiced his support for ENDA.
“I see this legislation as the
workplace equivalent of the Golden Rule – do unto others, as you
would have them do unto you,” Coffman
told POLITICO. “In the workplace, in 2014, we should judge
employees the way we would want to be judged – based on our
qualifications, our contributions and by our character, period.”
POLITICO described Coffman's
endorsement as “no surprise,” explaining that the Colorado
Republican “has reversed positions on immigration and abortion in
recent months as he tries to fend off a challenge from Democrat
Andrew Romanoff in Colorado's competitive sixth district.”
ENDA cleared the Senate in November and
President Barack Obama has pledged his signature. It currently has
203 co-sponsors and needs 218 to clear the House.
Americans for Workplace Opportunity,
which is backed by Republican billionaires Paul Singer and Seth
Klarman, has launched a $2.2 million campaign aimed at shoring up
Republican support in the House for ENDA.