Catherwood LibraryILR School

A bill extending workplace anti-discrimination protections to gays was adopted by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions yesterday, and could pass the Senate at large as soon as this year. Defeated 50 to 49 in 1996, the legislation would ban discrimination in hiring, firing, wages, and other terms and conditions of employment by public and private employers, and is expected to pass despite opposition from many Republicans. Within the next three weeks the Senate will also begin consideration of a bill---previously passed by the Senate in 2000, but defeated in the House---which would make hate crimes against gays a federal crime carrying the possibility of life imprisonment.