Congress had voted on a gay civil rights bill. In the current Congress, ENDA has more cosponsors than it has ever had, with more than a third of Senate and House members signed on. People should be judged at work by their performance, not by what they do in their private lives. In 39 states it is perfectly legal to fire someone because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. Otherwise qualified individuals can also be denied job opportunities and promotion, with no legal recourse.
Workplace fairness is a basic American value.
Polls consistently show that a vast majority of Americans oppose workplace discrimination. A 1999 Gallup poll showed that 83 percent of Americans surveyed support equality in job opportunities. ENDA is about equal rights, not special rights. ENDA does not call for any special treatment for gays and lesbians. It explicitly prohibits preferential treatment and quotas, and excludes religious institutions, the military and businesses with fewer than 15 employees.