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Do you think the ENDA bill will finally pass? (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)

Do you think the ENDA Bill will finally pass? (Employment Non-discrimination Act)

  • Total voters
    16
AGENT J

AGENT J

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THe bill has recently been gaining bipartisan support and there is even stories from within the GOP that insiders are also pushing for members to become supportive on this bill as it is a bill that will help be be judged on their merits and ability and not prejudiced.

If you are unfamiliar with the bill and history read below:
Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Employment Non- Discrimination Act | Human Rights Campaign
https://www.aclu.org/hiv-aids_lgbt-rights/employment-non-discrimination-act

Heres a recent article:
Bipartisan support boosts gay rights legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay rights advocates — including both Republicans and Democrats — are newly upbeat about the prospects for Senate passage of a bill that would prohibit employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The outlook for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act — the first test vote is Monday — reflects the nation's growing tolerance of homosexuality and Republicans' political calculation as they look for supporters beyond their core base of older voters.
"I think society continues to evolve on the issue of gay rights," said Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a co-sponsor of the measure. "As more and more gay individuals are open about their sexual orientation, people come to realize that they are their neighbors, their family members, their friends, their co-workers. That's made a big difference."


In a sign of the times, the anti-bias legislation has traditional proponents, such as the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay and lesbian advocacy group, and the backing of a relatively new group, the American Unity Fund. That organization has the financial support of big-name Republican donors — hedge fund billionaires Paul Singer, Cliff Asness, Dan Loeb and Seth Klarman — and former Republican lawmakers Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Tom Reynolds of New York.
"Most conservatives believe people in the workforce should be judged on their merits," said Jeff Cook-McCormac, a senior adviser to the American Unity Fund, a group that has focused on gay rights initiatives in New Jersey, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Delaware. "They shouldn't be judged on characteristics that are irrelevant in a productive employee."
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I myself am skeptical that it will pass but this, IMO has been the most optimistic views on it, its been around since 95 or so i believe.

Im going to vote yes but Im not too confident, its seems one of my own state senators could be part of the deciding votes. Ive already written to him and expressed how he should definitely support this bill and protect the right of fellow americans against discrimination whether they have different views or not becaue they are worthy of the same rights and protections as the rest of us.


Additional News Links:
Opinion: Workplace equality for gays gets serious support - CNN.com
Gay rights groups pressure Toomey on vote
ENDA gains bipartisan support, test vote Monday | Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida
Toomey pushed to back anti-discrimination bill | TribLIVE
Observer-Reporter | Gay rights groups pressure Toomey


So do you think the bill will pass? this isnt whether you support the bill or not the question is do you think it will pass?

Yes
No
Not sure
I like mashed Potatoes
mashed_potatoes_with_marsala_gravy_v03.jpg
 
AGENT J said:
THe bill has recently been gaining bipartisan support and there is even stories from within the GOP that insiders are also pushing for members to become supportive on this bill as it is a bill that will help be be judged on their merits and ability and not prejudiced.

If you are unfamiliar with the bill and history read below:
Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Employment Non- Discrimination Act | Human Rights Campaign
https://www.aclu.org/hiv-aids_lgbt-rights/employment-non-discrimination-act

Heres a recent article:
Bipartisan support boosts gay rights legislation


I myself am skeptical that it will pass but this, IMO has been the most optimistic views on it, its been around since 95 or so i believe.

Im going to vote yes but Im not too confident, its seems one of my own state senators could be part of the deciding votes. Ive already written to him and expressed how he should definitely support this bill and protect the right of fellow americans against discrimination whether they have different views or not becaue they are worthy of the same rights and protections as the rest of us.


Additional News Links:
Opinion: Workplace equality for gays gets serious support - CNN.com
Gay rights groups pressure Toomey on vote
ENDA gains bipartisan support, test vote Monday | Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida
Toomey pushed to back anti-discrimination bill | TribLIVE
Observer-Reporter | Gay rights groups pressure Toomey


So do you think the bill will pass? this isnt whether you support the bill or not the question is do you think it will pass?

Yes
No
Not sure
I like mashed Potatoes
View attachment 67156084
Click to expand...

I voted not sure, because the God Squad still has a strong hold in the House. What I mean by that is: If the Speaker allows it to come to a floor vote, I feel it could pass with a bipartisan vote, but the Religious Right (the God Squad) may try and force the Speaker to not allow a floor vote. They can call for a vote of No Confidence at any time and put the Speaker's office up for a vote, which would allow the Democrats to gain the Speaker's office since they would unite and the Republicans would be split and not have enough votes to maintain control.

I think it will pass the Senate without problem. Not unanimously, but without problem.
 
I have a hard time believing many repubs in the house will go for this, since they can simply fall back on "pro business" mantra. Of course, those same politicians are hypocrites if they wouldn't dream of repealing the current ENDA (protections for race gender religion etc). I'm resigned to our federal government being massive steaming piles of sh.it, so i'm not getting hopes up.
 
Beaudreaux said:
I voted not sure, because the God Squad still has a strong hold in the House. What I mean by that is: If the Speaker allows it to come to a floor vote, I feel it could pass with a bipartisan vote, but the Religious Right (the God Squad) may try and force the Speaker to not allow a floor vote. They can call for a vote of No Confidence at any time and put the Speaker's office up for a vote, which would allow the Democrats to gain the Speaker's office since they would unite and the Republicans would be split and not have enough votes to maintain control.

I think it will pass the Senate without problem. Not unanimously, but without problem.
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while SOME of the religious right fit your stereotype perfectly and that's a good moniker for them not all of them feel the same, some do support this bill because they are in favor of civil and equal rights. Not fair to pain them all with one brush.

In general i do agree the house is a different story


Right now this is the national scene:


Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., have already approved laws banning workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and 17 of those also prohibit employers from discriminating based on gender identity.

About 88% of Fortune 500 companies have already adopted nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation, according to the Human Rights Campaign. About 57% of those companies include gender identity.
 
AGENT J said:
while SOME of the religious right fit your stereotype perfectly and that's a good moniker for them not all of them feel the same, some do support this bill because they are in favor of civil and equal rights. Not fair to pain them all with one brush.
Click to expand...

I'm a Christian myself, just not one of the ones that think I know what God meant, verbatim, and implicitly, and those are the ones I say are in the God Squad (the same ones that use the Bible to justify hatred and discrimination). So to be clear, I wasn't referring to all Christians, just the extreme religious right.

AGENT J said:
In general i do agree the house is a different story


Right now this is the national scene:


Twenty-two states and Washington, D.C., have already approved laws banning workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and 17 of those also prohibit employers from discriminating based on gender identity.

About 88% of Fortune 500 companies have already adopted nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation, according to the Human Rights Campaign. About 57% of those companies include gender identity.
Click to expand...

I have a lesbian employee, who talks to me regularly about her situation with her parents, who have no idea. I'm not Fortune 500 company, in fact, I'm not even rich enough to be in the Fortune Unfortunate 500.

My conservatism tells me that I should hire a person, pay a person and promote a person within my company based on one thing only; personal capabilities.

The sad part, is that there's even a need for a law like this.

To be the devil's advocate for just a minute, owners of companies should be able to hire people that conform to the vision and goals of the company. If the owner of the local Bible Store at the mall doesn't want to hire gay people, or unwed mothers, or remarried divorce's (since Leviticus says they are bad too), then it's their choice. OR should it be?

My opinion? It shouldn't matter to the government, yet if the government didn't get involved with other forms of discrimination, where would our country be now?

There is obviously a need for the law, although not as much as before given your own statistics. But without the law, a reversal of this trend could occur.
 
Beaudreaux said:
I'm a Christian myself, just not one of the ones that think I know what God meant, verbatim, and implicitly, and those are the ones I say are in the God Squad (the same ones that use the Bible to justify hatred and discrimination). So to be clear, I wasn't referring to all Christians, just the extreme religious right.



I have a lesbian employee, who talks to me regularly about her situation with her parents, who have no idea. I'm not Fortune 500 company, in fact, I'm not even rich enough to be in the Fortune Unfortunate 500.

My conservatism tells me that I should hire a person, pay a person and promote a person within my company based on one thing only; personal capabilities.

The sad part, is that there's even a need for a law like this.

To be the devil's advocate for just a minute, owners of companies should be able to hire people that conform to the vision and goals of the company. If the owner of the local Bible Store at the mall doesn't want to hire gay people, or unwed mothers, or remarried divorce's (since Leviticus says they are bad too), then it's their choice. OR should it be?

My opinion? It shouldn't matter to the government, yet if the government didn't get involved with other forms of discrimination, where would our country be now?

There is obviously a need for the law, although not as much as before given your own statistics. But without the law, a reversal of this trend could occur.
Click to expand...

Well does the local shop have more than 15 direct employees? then it would have to

if it does then like most people do they simply make up a reason. Im not condoning that im just saying thats how the world already works. Im sure there were people fired today for being white, black, a man, a woman, christian, straight, gay etc BUT they made it out to be something else.
 
AGENT J said:
Well does the local shop have more than 15 direct employees? then it would have to

if it does then like most people do they simply make up a reason. Im not condoning that im just saying thats how the world already works. Im sure there were people fired today for being white, black, a man, a woman, christian, straight, gay etc BUT they made it out to be something else.
Click to expand...

That's very true.

Sounds like a hell of a lot of law suits coming down the pipe though once this passes.

You fired me because I'm gay!!
No, I fired you because you're a screw-up!!
No you didn't!!
Yes I did!!

Enter the lawyers...
 
AGENT J said:
THe bill has recently been gaining bipartisan support and there is even stories from within the GOP that insiders are also pushing for members to become supportive on this bill as it is a bill that will help be be judged on their merits and ability and not prejudiced.

If you are unfamiliar with the bill and history read below:
Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Employment Non- Discrimination Act | Human Rights Campaign
https://www.aclu.org/hiv-aids_lgbt-rights/employment-non-discrimination-act

Heres a recent article:
Bipartisan support boosts gay rights legislation


I myself am skeptical that it will pass but this, IMO has been the most optimistic views on it, its been around since 95 or so i believe.

Im going to vote yes but Im not too confident, its seems one of my own state senators could be part of the deciding votes. Ive already written to him and expressed how he should definitely support this bill and protect the right of fellow americans against discrimination whether they have different views or not becaue they are worthy of the same rights and protections as the rest of us.


Additional News Links:
Opinion: Workplace equality for gays gets serious support - CNN.com
Gay rights groups pressure Toomey on vote
ENDA gains bipartisan support, test vote Monday | Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida
Toomey pushed to back anti-discrimination bill | TribLIVE
Observer-Reporter | Gay rights groups pressure Toomey


So do you think the bill will pass? this isnt whether you support the bill or not the question is do you think it will pass?

Yes
No
Not sure
I like mashed Potatoes
View attachment 67156084
Click to expand...

Since I can't imagine why congress wouldn't vote to end discrimination against gays in the workplace, I voted "Yes, I think it will pass." But no matter the Federal law, the state of Illinois already forbids it.
 
Beaudreaux said:
That's very true.

Sounds like a hell of a lot of law suits coming down the pipe though once this passes.

You fired me because I'm gay!!
No, I fired you because you're a screw-up!!
No you didn't!!
Yes I did!!

Enter the lawyers...
Click to expand...

well this is true about everything but sadly thats a problem with people, lawyers and the courts
 
MaggieD said:
Since I can't imagine why congress wouldn't vote to end discrimination against gays in the workplace, I voted "Yes, I think it will pass." But no matter the Federal law, the state of Illinois already forbids it.
Click to expand...

that awesome believe or not im not actually familiar on which 22 states already prohibit this type of discrimination.
 
I truly love mashed potatoes.

I think there are viable concerns it could be abused and concerns as to how an employer would even know if an employee is gay. Such a law would not stop employers from firing employees because they are gay, it would simply incentivize those who do to be quiet about their motives. This would be largely symbolic, just as it nondiscrimination legislation for other groups is, and it may be viewed as an attempt to impose acceptance of homosexuality on others. I think the true value of the legislation is it takes a stand that whatever legally consenting romantic or sexual relationships people engage in has absolutely nothing to do with their ability to do their work and is not a viable grounds for discriminating on the basis of employment. I don't think anyone has any religious right to discipline or fire an employee for conduct outside of work they find immoral as long as that behavior is legal and does not interfere with their ability to perform their job duties.
 
CriticalThought said:
1.)I truly love mashed potatoes.

2.)I think there are viable concerns it could be abused and concerns as to how an employer would even know if an employee is gay. Such a law would not stop employers from firing employees because they are gay, it would simply incentivize those who do to be quiet about their motives.
3.)This would be largely symbolic, just as it nondiscrimination legislation for other groups is, and it may be viewed as an attempt to impose acceptance of homosexuality on others.
4.)I think the true value of the legislation is it takes a stand that whatever legally consenting romantic or sexual relationships people engage in has absolutely nothing to do with their ability to do their work and is not a viable grounds for discriminating on the basis of employment.
5.) I don't think anyone has any religious right to discipline or fire an employee for conduct outside of work they find immoral as long as that behavior is legal and does not interfere with their ability to perform their job duties.
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1.) me too, thats why i made it multiple choice lol and i myself didnt even vote for them:doh
2.) this is very true but it does help and cut down on discrimination in general so i think its much needed just like it is for gender, religion, race etc
3.) some people htink everything is mean to impose acceptance but that simple cant be imposed or legislated.
4.) agreed and its not viable grounds
5.) I agree but at times "interfere with job duties" is subjective and could vary from job to job.
 
AGENT J said:
THe bill has recently been gaining bipartisan support and there is even stories from within the GOP that insiders are also pushing for members to become supportive on this bill as it is a bill that will help be be judged on their merits and ability and not prejudiced.

If you are unfamiliar with the bill and history read below:
Employment Non-Discrimination Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Employment Non- Discrimination Act | Human Rights Campaign
https://www.aclu.org/hiv-aids_lgbt-rights/employment-non-discrimination-act

Heres a recent article:
Bipartisan support boosts gay rights legislation


I myself am skeptical that it will pass but this, IMO has been the most optimistic views on it, its been around since 95 or so i believe.

Im going to vote yes but Im not too confident, its seems one of my own state senators could be part of the deciding votes. Ive already written to him and expressed how he should definitely support this bill and protect the right of fellow americans against discrimination whether they have different views or not becaue they are worthy of the same rights and protections as the rest of us.


Additional News Links:
Opinion: Workplace equality for gays gets serious support - CNN.com
Gay rights groups pressure Toomey on vote
ENDA gains bipartisan support, test vote Monday | Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida
Toomey pushed to back anti-discrimination bill | TribLIVE
Observer-Reporter | Gay rights groups pressure Toomey


So do you think the bill will pass? this isnt whether you support the bill or not the question is do you think it will pass?

Yes
No
Not sure
I like mashed Potatoes
View attachment 67156084
Click to expand...

Who does the law apply to, A. B what are the proposed remedies?
 
MaggieD said:
Since I can't imagine why congress wouldn't vote to end discrimination against gays in the workplace, I voted "Yes, I think it will pass."
Click to expand...

Well, apart from the usual suspects (religious statists), there may be some libertarians who object to anti-discrimination laws as violation of the freedom of association. That's a separate complicated topic, but in any case, if and as long as we do have such laws, it makes no sense to exclude gays and lesbians from being covered by their protection.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Who does the law apply to, A. B what are the proposed remedies?
Click to expand...

A.) it applies to us all and simply adds sexual orientation to the list of things that cant be discriminate against.

Race
Gender
Religion
Origin etc

B.) there are no "remedies" it will just be illegal and will be a deterrent and will cut down on it just like it has for the other reasons
 
Seems to me that during the past 10 years the SSM debate has kind of dwarfed these other big issues. I saw some article the other day that most americans think ENDA already applies to sexuality and they're shocked to find out it doesn't. That's how awful our fed (and most states) government is.
 
Beaudreaux said:
You know what you call 1,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A good start.
Click to expand...

So you are justifying discrimination for convenience sake?
 
chromium said:
Seems to me that during the past 10 years the SSM debate has kind of dwarfed these other big issues. I saw some article the other day that most americans think ENDA already applies to sexuality and they're shocked to find out it doesn't. That's how awful our fed (and most states) government is.
Click to expand...

I agree and i myself am guilty of that in the past i thought AA/EO protected this but it doesnt not and its a shame
 
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AGENT J said:
I agree and i myself am guilty of that in the past i though AA/EO protected this but it doesnt not and its a shame
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There's a couple others i can think of too...The blood donation policy, age of consent, housing. But i guess one thing at a time.
 
I hope it doesn't pass. We don't need more of our rights violated, so that others can benefit.
 
Cyrylek said:
Well, apart from the usual suspects (religious statists), there may be some libertarians who object to anti-discrimination laws as violation of the freedom of association. That's a separate complicated topic, but in any case, if and as long as we do have such laws, it makes no sense to exclude gays and lesbians from being covered by their protection.
Click to expand...

The only thing I would agree to is the complete repeal of all public accommodation laws. I see no benefit in expanding something that violates the rights of people.
 
Henrin said:
I hope it doesn't pass. We don't need more of our rights violated, so that others can benefit.
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I dont know if this bill will pass yet but one thing that makes me happy is the majority of Americans disagree with your opinion.
 
AGENT J said:
A.) it applies to us all and simply adds sexual orientation to the list of things that cant be discriminate against.

Race
Gender
Religion
Origin etc

B.) there are no "remedies" it will just be illegal and will be a deterrent and will cut down on it just like it has for the other reasons
Click to expand...

So it applies to public and private entities alike regardless of size? You misunderstand, if it is illegal to discriminate on this basis, what legal remedies do those who claim to be harmed, have?
 
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