O'Malley calls for increased LGBT protections.

[elleng]

The fight for equality for gays and lesbians is far from over, Democratic presidential hopeful and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said in a statement Monday calling for increased constitutional protections from discrimination.

While he called Friday’s Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage a “major step forward,” O'Malley cautioned that “our fight for equality continues." O’Malley joined the call for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which provides protections from workplace discrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

“In a majority of states, gay and lesbian employees can still be denied job opportunities or fired solely based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Twenty-eight states also lack laws banning discrimination in housing,” he said in a statement Monday.
“Passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to expand these protections at the federal level is a necessary next step. We must continue to improve our laws, to more fully protect the rights of every individual — and more fully realize the vision of an open, respectful, and inclusive nation that Friday's decision aspires us to be."

O’Malley lauded Maryland for passing a similar expansion of discrimination laws while he served as governor.

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/246472-omalley-calls-for-increased-protections-for-gays-lesbians

[Koinos]

1. K & R

[FSogol]

2. K&R. n/t

[Raine1967]

3. ENDA needs expansion on a federal level to add the protections ALREADY law in Maryland:

http://marylandemploymentdevelopments.com/2013/11/19/senate-passes-the-employment-non-discrimination-act/

Legislation to outlaw employment discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation has been proposed many times since 1994. This year may see its passage, though. With more states approving gay marriage, and prominent politicians on both sides of the aisle approving of the notion of equal rights for gay citizens, the time may have come to add it to the national civil rights protections.

Earlier this month, when ten Republicans in the Senate voted with all Democrats to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a barrier crumbled. A Republican amendment to protect religious groups from complying with the law put the effort over the top.

Maryland legislation protects employees from being discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation; we have yet to add gender identification. Maryland legalized gay marriage by voter referendum. While this effort will probably top out at 30 or so states, the momentum is strong now, and at least in parts of the country, should

In light of the Supreme Court’s recent opinion in U.S. v. Windsor erjecting the Defense of Marriage Act, together with shifting public attitudes towards same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, many insiders believe the time is ripe for ENDA.

If he could get this passed as governor, he can get this done as President.

[FSogol]

4. +1 n/t