Posted on November 15, 2007
This past week, history was made when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This legislation provides protection against discrimination in the workplace due to sexual orientation. Currently, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 only offers protection in the workplace on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability. Without the passage of this legislation, it will remain legal to fire someone solely based on his or her sexual orientation in 31 states, including Virginia. The Houses passage of ENDA, with a vote of 235 to 184, is the first time either house of Congress has passed legislation to protect workers due to sexual orientation.
It is simple to understand why there is so much support for ENDA—discriminating against someone because they are gay is simply wrong. Congressman Lewis felt the same sentiment when he spoke out supporting passage of the bill, saying, “I for one fought too long and too hard to end discrimination based on race and color, not to stand up against discrimination against our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. During the 1960s, we broke down those signs that said ‘white’ and ‘colored.’ Call it what you may, to discriminate against someone because they are gay is wrong, it is wrong, it is not right. There’s not any room in our society for discrimination.”
ENDA is now off to be debated and voted on in the U.S. Senate. In an effort to show widespread support of this legislation, the JMU Student Government Association, joined by Madison Equality, is working tirelessly to pass a student bill of opinion stating that the students of James Madison University support making ENDA law. Today both groups are collecting signatures in support of the bill. These signatures will be sent to the Senators from Virginia urging them to vote in favor of passing ENDA. We now urge all of the students on this campus to voice their support for this bill by finding their SGA representative and signing the bill of opinion.
Robert Burden
senior, biology major
About Us | Supplements | Advertising | Contact Us
Website design by Erik Pitzer ('07)
