Ban on Job Discrimination Against Gays Approved

The House passed the ban on job discrimination against gays, lesbian and bisexuals, though not all GLBT groups were included. The ban does not include transgender workers (transsexuals, cross-dressed and other gender identity reversal groups).

The federal ban is aimed at protecting gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals and enabled employers to decide on major employment matters based on one's sexual orientation.

The next step would be for ban to pass the Senate, where serious fight is expected.

“Bigotry and homophobia are sentiments that should never be allowed to permeate the American workplace,” said House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C.

Members of Republican Party say that the bill can cause the the protest from religious groups opposing homosexuality and result in numerous questionable lawsuits based on discrimination.

The transgender workers were excluded from the ban because of the fear that moderate and conservative Democrats won't vote for the final bill. This already lead to many disputes among GLBT activists.

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have laws protecting homosexual individuals from discrimination and by January the laws are expected in Iowa, Vermont, Colorado and Oregon.