After Thursday's historic passage of
the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the Senate, President
Barack Obama called on House Speaker John Boehner, an opponent of the
legislation, to allow a vote in the House.
ENDA seeks to end workplace
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The bill cleared the Senate with a
bipartisan 64-32 vote that included 10 Republicans voting for the
anti-discrimination bill.
(Related: 10
GOP senators vote for ENDA; Only 1 Republican speaks out against
bill.)
In an emailed statement, Obama said
that the bill would “help end the injustice of our fellow Americans
being denied a job or fired just because they are lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender.”
“Today's victory is a tribute to all
those who fought for this progress ever since a similar bill was
introduced after the Stonewall riots more than three decades ago.”
“Now it's up to the House of
Representatives,” the president added. “This bill has the
overwhelming support of the American people, including a majority of
Republican voters, as well as many corporations, small businesses and
faith communities. They recognize that our country will be more just
and more prosperous when we harness the God-given talents of every
individual.”
“One party in one house of Congress
should not stand in the way of millions of Americans who want to go
to work each day and simply be judged by the job they do. Now is the
time to end this kind of discrimination in the workplace, not enable
it. I urge the House Republican leadership to bring this bill to the
floor for a vote and send it to my desk so I can sign it into law.
On that day, our nation will take another historic step toward
fulfilling the founding ideals that define us as Americans.”