---
title: "Many states already bar workplace discrimination against gays"
description: "Workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity is banned in 22 states (including the District of Columbia)."
date: "2013-11-06"
authors:
  - name: "Drew DeSilver"
    job_title: "Senior Writer/Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/drew-desilver/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/11/06/many-states-already-bar-workplace-discrimination-against-gays/"
categories:
  - "Discrimination & Prejudice"
  - "LGBTQ Attitudes & Experiences"
  - "State & Local Government"
---

# Many states already bar workplace discrimination against gays

After a key procedural vote Monday, the Senate is debating a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, almost two decades after the first such measure was introduced in Congress. But even if the Democratic-controlled Senate passes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, it faces strong opposition in the Republican-run House. [](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/11/WorkplaceDiscrimination.png)

![WorkplaceDiscrimination](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/11/WorkplaceDiscrimination.png)

According to the [Government Accountability Office](http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/656443.pdf), 21 states and the District of Columbia already prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation; 17 (plus D.C.) extend that protection to gender identity. In addition, dozens of cities and counties have enacted [local nondiscrimination ordinances](http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/cities-and-counties-with-non-discrimination-ordinances-that-include-gender). All told, those [state and local laws](http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/category/research/workplace/) cover about 40% of the U.S. population, according to the [Senate committee report](http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-113srpt105/pdf/CRPT-113srpt105.pdf) accompanying ENDA.

Most employed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults said their workplaces were "very" or "somewhat" accepting of LGBT people, according to a [Pew Research Center report](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/4/) issued earlier this year. While only 21% said they had been [treated unfairly by an employer](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/3/#personal-experiences) because of their sexual orientation or gender identity (and just 5% saying they'd been so mistreated in the past year), workplace discrimination is one of the [most important policy issues](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/a-survey-of-lgbt-americans/8/#top-issues) within the LGBT community. More than half (57%) said equal employment rights for LGBT people should be a "top priority."