Schatz Votes for Final Passage of Bill to Expand Federal Equal Rights Protections for LGBT Community

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) voted for final passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which he co-sponsored. This legislation provides workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and extends federal employment rights to LGBT individuals. 

The legislation passed by a final vote of 64-32 and will now move to the House for consideration.

“Equal treatment under every aspect of the law is right and it is just,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz.  “Past fights for equal rights prove that those standing in the way of equality now are on the wrong side of history.”

Schatz has long fought for expanding equal rights.  He signed an amicus brief declaring that marriage equality must be a constitutional right for every American and urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. Shortly after the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of DOMA in the landmark Windsor decision, the Senator said: “Because of this decision, the federal government can no longer tell men and women who they can or cannot marry, and same-sex married couples can now enjoy the same federal benefits as the rest of us.  I have always believed in marriage equality, and will continue to do everything in my power to help our LGBT friends and loved ones achieve equality.” 

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