Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) told the 113-member LGBT Equality Caucus last week that there is “no way” the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would pass this year according to Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA).
Boehner has repeatedly claimed that the LGBT employment protections are “unnecessary” while in reality, it remains legal in 29 states to fire people for their sexual orientation and and in 33 states to fire people for their gender identity.
Meanwhile Obama could issue the “promised” executive order protecting at least the LGBT employees of federal contractors, which would also apply to small businesses not covered by ENDA, but the White House insists it prefers a legislative approach even though it seems Boehner will not be allowing it to come up for a vote soon.
Could this be the reason why President Obama who through out his tenure has not been known to use the “bully pulpit” did not mention the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last night in the State of the Union address because he knows its dead in the water?