A national debate is intensifying about whether or not sexual orientation should be added to the list of classifications protected by federal law from employment discrimination.

A bill (H.R. 3685) prohibiting discrimination based on such a classification is slowly making its way through Congress. The House has passed the bill and it awaits action in the Senate, but the Senate has not announced a schedule for considering it.

The bill got a recent boost when national SHRM released a statement on June 19, 2008 supporting it. President Bush has not stated a position on the pending bill. However, many state laws already prohibit sexual orientation discrimination, as do many business policies even when not required by applicable laws.