Politics & Government

U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Extend Civil Rights Protections to LGBT Community

Vote proves Royal Oak got it right on Election Day, says One Royal Oak organizer.

Two days after Royal Oak passed a human right ordinance, the U.S. Senate has voted to approve the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The milestone civil rights legislation passed today would prohibit certain employers from discriminating against the LGBT community in the workplace.

"This legislation is carefully crafted to protect the sincere religious beliefs many Americans hold. It embodies a simple but powerful American ideal: On the job, what matters is your work, not your gender or skin color or faith or your sexual orientation any other extraneous matter," said Sen. Carl Levin (D- Mich.) on the floor of the Senate. 

ENDA bans companies with 15 or more employees from engaging in employment discrimination on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Library of Congress website. Race, religion, sex and national origin have been protected by federal law since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"I think the vote validates the work we did in Royal Oak," said Jon Hoadley, director of the Unity Michigan Coalition.

Hoadley worked with One Royal Oak to help pass Proposal A - the human rights ordinance - by 6,645-5,515, or 54 percent of the vote, on Tuesday in Royal Oak.

"Addressing it at the federal level shows that employment discrimination does exist," he said. "And if it's wrong in the workplace, then it should be applied to housing, restaurants, etcetera. Values should be consistent, which is what Royal Oak said on Tuesday. So way to go, Royal Oak."

The final vote in Washington was 64-32, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats.

The Huffington Post reports House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) opposes the measure, and senior aides say it's unlikely to even come up for a vote in the House.

“The Senate’s action is a vital first step to enacting workplace protections for LGBT Americans. The House must follow suit and stand up for all Americans, much like we did last Tuesday in Royal Oak,” said Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak).


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