House Democrats' LGBT Amendment To Workforce Policies Bill Dismissed

INDIANAPOLIS -- The vast majority of House Republicans dismissed a Democratic amendment Thursday that would’ve barred employment discrimination against the LGBT community.  

The Democrats’ efforts to keep the LGBT debate alive took the form of an amendment on the House floor to a bill on workforce policies.  The proposed provision would have barred LGBT discrimination in the workplace via hiring, benefits, scheduling and working conditions. 

Democrats and seven Republicans accounted for the amendment’s affirmative votes, while 59 GOP members voted "no." 

Speaker Brian Bosma says that vote isn’t necessarily a reflection of support in his caucus for LGBT rights.

“I think a lot of folks even that might support the protected class status didn’t think it’s appropriate to put it on a bill on second reading without public testimony,” Bosma said.

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath calls the Speaker’s stated need for public testimony “ridiculous.”

“This is one of the most widely debated issues in the state of Indiana," Pelath said. "If you don’t have clear views on it now, I don’t know what you’re working on.”

Pelath says Democrats will continue working on the issue, which could include more amendments on the House floor.