WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the Senate’s passage of a bill, by a vote of 64-32, to protect Americans from workplace discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) Americans from workplace discrimination. Brown, who voted in favor of ENDA, offered the following statement:

“Far too many Americans go to work each day fearing that they will be fired for who they are and who they love,” Brown said. “This is wrong and violates our nation’s belief that every citizen deserves equality and justice. That is why I applaud my Senate colleagues for passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would entitle LGBT Americans to the same workplace protections that are offered to other citizens on the basis of race, religion, gender, or disability. Now it is up the House to do the right thing by bringing ENDA to a vote.”   

Shortly before today’s vote, Brown gave a speech on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to support ENDA.

ENDA has been endorsed by national civil rights organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the ACLU, that National Black Justice Coalition, labor organizations, and Fortune 500 companies.

Brown, a strong advocate for equal rights, is a co-sponsor of ENDA. He is one of just a handful of sitting senators who voted against the controversial Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 – during his service as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown supports equality of opportunity for all Americans and has previously cosponsored the Student Nondiscrimination Act (SNDA) and the Safe Schools Improvement Act to end discrimination and bullying.

In December 2010, Brown was the first senator to deliver an “It Gets Better” speech from the Senate Floor, which may be viewed HERE.

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