Hawaii Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz were among the majority of U.S. senators voting 64-32 on what’s described as “a historic advance for the gay rights cause.”

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, where Speaker John Boehner has said it will not pass the GOP-controlled chamber because the bill would hurt businesses.

According to Hirono’s office, “ENDA bans employers nationwide from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender LGBT workers, protections that are already commonplace for other minority communities. Currently, discrimination is only prohibited in 21 states based on sexual orientation and in 17 states based on gender identity. “

“All Americans deserve the basic civil right to earn a living and be judged by the quality of their work, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” Hirono said.

“Equal treatment under every aspect of the law is right and it is just,” said Schatz.  “Past fights for equal rights prove that those standing in the way of equality now are on the wrong side of history.”

“Legislation to end this type of workplace discrimination is long overdue, and I encourage Speaker Boehner to promptly bring the bill to the floor for a vote so we can ensure employment equality for all our LGBT brothers and sisters,” said Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Photo: Dome of the U.S. Capitol. (Ron Cogswell)

—Chad Blair