Today at 1pm today (6-24-09) Barney Frank is set to officially introduce the HR 2981, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

This week, Congressman Barney Frank will introduce the Employee Non-Discrimination Act.  The legislation would extend federal employment laws, which currently prevent job discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability, to also cover sexual orientation and gender identity.  The bill covers both the public and private sectors.

Although some states have passed laws to prevent such discrimination, it is legal in 30 states to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, and legal in 38 states to discriminate on the basis of gender identity.  According to research by the Williams Institute, there is an ongoing pattern of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity nationwide.

Over 100 co-sponsors, including members of both parties, have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

Oddly, the bill was actually introduced into the record last Friday (6-19-09).

Food for thought? Take a peek at the media advisory put out by Barney Frank’s office the people invited to the media event:

WHO: Rep. Barney Frank, joined by Rep. George Miller, Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. Rob Andrews, Rep. Mike Castle, Rep. Todd Platts, Rep. Leonard Lance, and others.  Also participating will be representatives of the Human Rights Campaign, the AFL-CIO, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

Congrats to the HRC, the AFL-CIO, and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights for their great work on this bill!

h/t to Kat at ENDAblog