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Attorney General Madigan Calls on U.S. House of Representatives to Pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act


Chicago—(ENEWSPF)—November 20, 2013. Attorney General Lisa Madigan today called on U.S. House Speaker John Boehner to bring to a vote the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and extend anti-discrimination protections to the millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans across the country.

Madigan and 13 other attorneys general sent a letter this week to Boehner urging him to act following passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the U.S. Senate earlier this month.

If enacted, the law would provide important protections against discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and prohibit employers from discriminating against their employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“No one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation,” Madigan said. “As we make strides on marriage equality in Illinois and across the country, we also must put an end to discrimination in the workplace for these millions of Americans. I urge members of the House of Representative to follow the Senate’s lead.”

Attorney General Madigan was a strong supporter of a change to Illinois’ Human Rights Act in 2005 to prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And Madigan has long advocated that the same protections be provided at the federal level. In 2009, she testified before the U. S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee urging lawmakers to follow Illinois’ lead and pass ENDA to extend these important protections and promote tolerance and equality across the country.

Joining Madigan in sending the letter were the attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

Source: Illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

 


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