Dems To Intro Federal LGBT Rights Bill

Via USA Today:

Congressional Democrats said Monday they'll push for federal legislation to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in states that lack broad non-discrimination laws. "It's time for Congress to weigh in on what is happening across the country," said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who heads the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. "The recent examples of legislation in Indiana and Arkansas are not where we are as a country. It's not who we are as Americans. And Congress needs to lead on this." "In the wake of the backlash of Indiana's misguided law, it is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of discrimination," Democratic Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana said Monday. Carson plans to introduce a nonbinding resolution this week expressing lawmakers' view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, businesses, schools and elsewhere.

According to Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), this week's resolution is meant to be a prelude to a formal bill that will be introduced later in the session. Cicilline's bill would provide essentially the same protections extended to others under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The passage of any such bill, of course, would require support from a number of Republicans.