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

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.

U.S. Rep John Dingell (D-12th District) is urging Boehner to allow a vote to be taken, saying "the time to act is now.”

“Today’s Senate vote shows clear, bipartisan support for ending all forms of discrimination in the workplace," Dingell said in a written statement. "I consider my votes to advance the Civil Rights movement throughout the 50s and 60s among the most important votes I’ve cast in my nearly 58 years in the House of Representatives, and I see little difference when it comes to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

"This is about treating all people fairly, with honor, dignity, and respect. I’m proud to cosponsor this important legislation in the House, and I call on Speaker Boehner to put politics aside, bring this bill to the floor for a vote, and help to end this unnecessary wrong so many Americans face. The time to act is now.”