Strong Support From Business, President For Gay Discrimination Bill

A bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against gay and transgender people in the workplace has the support of President Obama, some key business figures, and potentially a majority of the Senate. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in April, may see a Senate vote this week. In a blog posted by The Huffington Post Nov. 3, Obama wrote that, “[I]n the United States of America, who you are and who you love should never be a fireable offense.”

That same day Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, urged Congress to approve the bill in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, saying his company’s policy goes further than the proposed federal rule, and makes good business sense. “As we see it, embracing people’s individuality is a matter of basic human dignity and civil rights,” Cook wrote. “It also turns out to be great for the creativity that drives our business. We’ve found that when people feel valued for who they are, they have the comfort and confidence to do the best work of their lives.”