The House yesterday passed the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, about which we previously blogged. The bill, were it to ever be signed into law, would prevent employers from discriminating against people because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation, but the bill becoming a law anytime soon is, of course, a pipe dream.
As expected, Democrats tooted their own horns (no pun intended) upon passing the legislation, while neglecting to mention stripping the bill of transgender non-discrimination rights and leaving out any protections for homosexuals that work for religious institutions (which includes hospitals) or the military. On the positive side, 200 Democrats and 35 Republicans voted for the bill; in less heartening news, 25 Democrats and 159 Republicans voted against, and 14 of our elected Representatives didn't bother voting at all.
Meanwhile, it's probably not ever going to come to a vote in the Senate, it's chances of passage are probably iffy if it does, and President Bush is keeping his veto pen ready, just in case. For those of you counting, the bill is well short of the number of votes it would require to override a veto were it to even reach the President's desk.
So, yay. The House passed a bill they've got no hope of seeing become law in order to make people believe they're actually effective, and now they can get back to naming Post Offices and shit.
House Approves Broad Protections for Gay Workers [NY Times]
Employee Nondiscrimination Act Roll Call Vote [Clerk of the House]