President Clinton intends to lobby hard for passage of legislation that would outlaw employment discrimination against homosexuals.
Clinton held a closed half-hour White House meeting Thursday with the bill's sponsors, gay and civil rights advocates."Individuals should not be denied a job on the basis of something that has no relationship to their ability to perform their work," Clinton said in a statement. "This is wrong."
Conservative groups say they will fight the legislation, arguing that it unfairly forces employers to have inappropriate, on-the-job discussions about sexuality and gives homosexuals an advantage in hiring.
The legislation bars employers from using a worker's sexual orientation as a factor in decisions on hiring or firing, promotion or compensation. The Senate rejected the bill in September on a 50-49 vote. The House never voted on it, and its sponsors plan to reintroduce it soon.
"I support it and I urge all Americans to do so," Clinton said. "It is about our ongoing fight against bigotry and intolerance, in our country and in our hearts."
The bill exempts small businesses, the military, religious organizations and schools or educational institutions run by religious groups.
Currently, gay workers in 41 states could be fired or denied jobs or a promotion because of their sexuality, and most cannot seek relief in state or federal courts. Nine states have laws or other rules that extend to homosexuals job protections similar to those offered on the basis of age, race, religion or gender.