PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on Thursday joined nine other Republicans in a bipartisan vote hailed as a historic victory for gay rights, helping the Senate pass a bill barring workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a priority for gay-rights advocates since its introduction in 1994, cleared the Senate on a 64-32 vote, the lopsided result illustrating the sea change in the politics around issues concerning gays, lesbians, and transgender people.
“Every individual is entitled to dignity and respect and fairness,” Toomey said on the Senate floor before casting a vote that once again moved him toward the middle on social issues. “A person’s sexual orientation is irrelevant to their ability to be a good doctor, engineer or athlete or a federal judge.” … (more)
