Frank, Baldwin and Polis on ENDA

“I am encouraged that we are going to be able to do this year what we were not able to do a couple years ago and that is to pass a fully inclusive bill,” said Congressman Frank. “I urge people to keep up lobbying. You can now take for granted that there will be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives almost certainly this calendar year on a fully inclusive ENDA. At this point it is essential that everybody who cares about this lobbies his or her Representative and Senators. When you’re through with that, go to other people and get them to lobby their Representative and Senators because we have a President ready to sign it, and I think things are well inclined for this to happen.”

“This is an historic moment because I share Congressman Frank’s optimism that we will be able to advance this legislation,” said Congresswoman Baldwin. “It will be the first piece of major LGBT civil rights legislation ever enacted by this Congress. The power of the Congress of the United States recognizing that discrimination in employment exists against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and saying that it is wrong, that it is illegal, is an incredibly important thing.”

“Our businesses need to be able to tap into the very best and brightest to compete in a global environment,” said Polis. “Discriminating against people on the basis of race, or gender, or physical disability, or sexual orientation and gender identity, is simply inefficient and puts American businesses at a disadvantage in a global economy. By passing ENDA, we can ensure that American businesses have access to and hire the very best and brightest to be able to compete and build those leaders through those organizations.”