'Enda' gay rights bill passed in US Senate

Employment Non-Discrimination Act (Enda), a bill banning workplace discrimination against gay and transgender people has passed the US Senate with significant cross-party support. The Senate voted 64-32 to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, with 10 Republicans voting in favour. President Barack Obama called the bill an "important step" to "help end injustice". The future of the bill in the Republican-led House still remains unclear, as Speaker John Boehner has voiced his opposition. He opposed the bill arguing it could lead to lawsuits and hinder job creation. The legislation bars employers with 15 or more workers from making employment decisions - hiring, firing or compensation - based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill's passage in the Senate comes three years after Congress lifted the ban on gays serving openly in the US military, and months after the US Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage. This week, the Illinois legislature passed a bill recognising same-sex marriage. Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is legislation proposed in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by civilian, nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees. ENDA has been introduced in every Congress since 1994 except the 109th.Similar legislation has been introduced without passage since 1974. The bill gained its best chance at passing after the Democratic Party broke twelve years of Republican Congressional rule in the 2006 midterm elections. In 2007, gender identity protections were added to the legislation for the first time. Some sponsors believed that even with a Democratic majority, ENDA did not have enough votes to pass the House of Representatives with transgender inclusion and dropped it from the bill, which passed the House and then died in the Senate. President George W. Bush threatened to veto the measure. LGBT advocacy organizations and the LGBT community were divided over support of the modified bill. li>In 2009, following Democratic gains in the 2008 elections and after the divisiveness of the 2007 debate, Rep. Barney Frank introduced a transgender-inclusive version of ENDA. He introduced it again in 2011, and Sen. Jeff Merkley introduced it in the Senate. President Barack Obama supports the bill's passage.

What: 'Enda' gay rights bill passed in US Senate When: November 7, 2013 Who: The Senate voted 64-32 to pass ‘Enda’ bill, with 10 Republicans voting in favour.