House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters today that he sees a bright future for the passage of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act pending in Congress even though it’s an election year. Hoyer (D-MD) said he see that measure and the ban on gays in the military being “resolved,” though didn’t give a specific time frame.
“We passed that through the House, so it is not like this is a new issue for the members. Already a significant majority of members of the House have already voted for this,” Hoyer said after a reporter asked about the bill’s chances.
Hoyer also weighed in on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, another major issue that gay rights activists want to see completed this year but which may be passed off until after the midterm election.
“It is a policy that needs to be changed,” Hoyer said. “I think both of these issues are not new issues, and I frankly think that they are going to be resolved, and I think the American public is there as well. I think there is some controversy on both, that is clear, but I don’t think nearly as much controversy as there was.”
The Advocate called Hoyer’s remarks “significant.”
