Poll: Americans Erroneously Assume Federal Non-Discrimnation Laws Exist

While the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) continues to seek the support of House Republican lawmakers, a poll taken in late 2013 has found that the vast majority of Americans are under the assumption that such federal protections are already in place.

The results of a Huffington Post YouGov poll released in October 2013, show that 69 percent of those surveyed thought that to the best of their knowledge that it was illegal under federal law to fire someone for being gay or lesbian. 13 percent believed is was legal to discriminate on the basis of sexual identity. Eighteen percent said they were unsure.

Along party lines, it appears as though Republican voters were the most ill-informed of existing laws prohibiting discrimination. Among the 233 Republicans surveyed, 74 percent believed that federal laws prohibited workplace discrimination as compared to 66 percent of Independents and 68 percent of Democrats.

The poll also showed that 50 percent favored legislation prohibiting job discrimination with 42 percent opposing and 8 percent undecided.

' target='_blank'>Gay Star News points out that these poll results come as President Barack Obama prepares to sign an executive order banning government contractors from discriminating agains applicants or existing employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Although ENDA passed in the Senate in 2013, it remains stalled in the Republican controlled House of Representatives where it is opposed by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).