Senator Collins supports a bill that would prohibit employment discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity

Maine Senator Susan Collins has co-sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit employers from discriminating against employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Maine law already prohibits employment discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. However, according to the Human Rights Campaign, 29 states permit employers to discriminate based on sexual orientation, and 38 states permit discrimination based on gender identity. In these other states, hardworking men and women can legally be denied job opportunities, be fired, or otherwise discriminated against because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT).

ENDA “affirms the principle that individuals should be judged solely on their skills and abilities,” said Senator Collins. “Similar to the current law in several states, including Maine, and the policies of many Fortune 500 companies, [ENDA] would close an important gap in federal civil rights laws by making it illegal to discriminate in employment based on sexual orientation.”