New York, N.Y., July 31, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the introduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation which would extend legal protections from employment discrimination to gays and lesbians, and issued the following statement:

ADL firmly believes that employment decisions such as hiring, firing, promotion and compensation should be based on merit, performance, and ability – and never on the basis of an individual’s sexual orientation. No one should be dismissed from their job solely because of their sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, in the vast majority of states, it is not illegal to fire someone simply because that person is a gay man or a lesbian. Support for ENDA sends an important message to all Americans that sexual orientation discrimination will not be tolerated in the workplace.

The provisions in ENDA would extend federal employment discrimination protections to those denied equal employment opportunities based on sexual orientation. ENDA does not create any special rights for gays and lesbians, but simply extends existing federal employment discrimination protections based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability to include sexual orientation.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.