by Tracy Russo | U.S. Department of Justice blog
Critical civil rights legislation is currently being considered in Congress. This legislation, known as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), would expand people’s rights to be free from discrimination in the workplace.
As federal law, ENDA would prohibit intentional employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity by employers, employment agencies and labor organizations.
Today, Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez of the Civil Rights Division testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on this legislation, which is a top priority of the Obama Administration and the Justice Department. Assistant Attorney General Perez:
“On an issue of basic equality and fundamental fairness for all Americans, we cannot in good conscience stand by and watch unjustifiable discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals occur in the workplace without redress. We have come too far in our struggle for “equal justice under the law” to remain silent or stoic when our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters are still being mistreated and ostracized for reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with their skills or abilities and everything to do with myths, stereotypes, fear of the unknown, and prejudice. “
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read Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez’s full testimony here
