Bill Banning Job Discrimination Against Gays Passes Senate

We knew it
had the votes earlier in the week, but the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act picked up even a few more Republicans as it

passed the Senate today, 64-32. Via MSNBC:

Senate lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill banning workplace
discrimination against LGBT individuals in a historic, albeit
nominal, victory four decades in the making.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed its final
vote in the full Senate 64-32, just three days after its first
since 1996, when a similar measure failed but just one vote. The
full Senate would not vote again on a workplace protection bill for
gays and lesbians until this past Monday, when lawmakers voted to
begin debate. It was 1974 when Congress first saw a bill of this
kind.

Signs of the measure becoming law were stunted earlier in the
week, however, when Speaker John Boehner voiced his opposition on
the grounds that it would cost small business and create “frivolous
litigation.”

Ten Republicans voted for its passage, including John McCain,
Jeff Flake and Rob Portman (who famously flipped positions on
same-sex marriage after his son came out of the closet).

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