Legislative Background on ENDA
Recent Action by Congress on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
The first Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced in Congress in 1994 — by Senator Ted Kennedy (MA-D) in the Senate and Representative Gerry Studds (MA-D) in the House. That bill would have made it illegal to discriminate against employees in all aspects of employment based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation. That legislation died in committee, a pattern that was repeated over the next several years. A version of ENDA has been introduced in every Congress since then, except for the 109th (2005 and 2006). ■ Previous House and Senate Votes The first floor vote on ENDA occurred…
