Current federal law provides legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin and disability. Only 17 states protect against being fired for sexual orientation and just eight protect transgender persons.

ENDA is supported by most of the nation's largest businesses, which already have adopted similar principles as part their own company employment policies. It also has the support of organized labor.

'This is a protection against discrimination that has been tried in a number of states, beginning in Wisconsin more than 20 years ago, and it has worked extremely well,' said lead sponsor Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. 'It has caused none of the problems that opponents inaccurately claimed it would and it has provided job protection for people who ask simply to be allowed do their jobs and be judged on their job performance.'

Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, a leader in the House, said, 'This legislation is first and foremost about fairness—about allowing all Americans to pursue their right to earn a living. Workplace discrimination of any kind is wrong, period.'

Chris Shays, R-Conn., and the only open lesbian in the House, Tammy Baldwin D-Wis., are also lead sponsors of ENDA.

'We are a nation predicated on equality, and over the years, we have embraced an increasingly broader and more inclusive vision of what that means,' said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) .

Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon said, 'Americans know that ENDA represents a measured and pragmatic response to prejudice and discrimination. Job discrimination, for any reason, is un-American, unfair and unwise.' He urged Republicans to support the legislation.

LGBT advocates have long claimed that the votes have been there to pass the legislation, but that the Republican leadership, particularly in the House, has prevented such consideration. Now with Democrats in control of Congress, they hope for quick passage either later this summer or early fall.