Anti-Discrimination Protections for LGBT Employees (S. 815)

What is S. 815?

(Updated February 27, 2020)

Would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by employers with at least 15 employees. Religious organizations and non-profit membership-only clubs (with the exception of labor unions) are provided exemptions. This transgender-inclusive version of the Act passed Senate in November 2013 and awaits a vote in the House as HR 1755.

Argument in favor

All employees have the right to be judged by the quality of their work performance, and not by completely unrelated factors.

Argument opposed

Laws against private sector discrimination are acts of coercion and interfere with employer's property rights.

Impact

Estimates indicate an increase of 5% to 7% in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's caseload. Language in bill would offer protections roughly analogous to those in the Civil Rights Protection Act of 1964.

Cost of S. 815

The CBO estimates that implementing S. 815 would cost $47 million over the 2014-2018 period mostly for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to handle additional discrimination cases.

Additional Info

Media: 

Washington Post: ENDA, Explained 

Wikipedia: Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Of Note: 

-Similar legislation has been introduced without passage since 1974. 
-A June 2013 Pew Report found that one-in-five LGBT employees have experienced some form of workplace discrimination.