As Senate Prepares to Pass Monumental ENDA, Murray Discusses WA State Law's Success

U.S. Senator Patty Murray gave a speech on the Senate floor about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which outlaws workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Murray was an original cosponsor of ENDA when it was first introduced in 1994, and has continued to work for its passage ever since. In 2006, the Washington state legislature enacted a bill called the Washington Law Against Discrimination. This law added protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to the state civil rights law, and was a giant step forward for the civil rights of Washington workers. Senator Murray talked about how this law supports a thriving LGBT community in Washington, and how passage of ENDA will benefit the country.