The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece on Sunday in which Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple Inc. voiced his opinion of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that is up for a vote before the Senate tonight. Cook’s statements were short and to the point in the piece, where he praised the U.S. government for fighting for the rights of individuals.

As we see it, embracing people’s individuality is a matter of basic human dignity and civil rights. It also turns out to be great for the creativity that drives our business. We’ve found that when people feel valued for who they are, they have the comfort and confidence to do the best work of their lives.”

Apple’s Policy

Cook noted that Apple Inc. supports the rights of individuals even more than the U.S. government. He pointed out that Apple’s corporate policies provide more protection to employees than the laws currently in place. Apple Inc. does not discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees. The groups and individuals behind ENDA hope to make this policy a nationwide law.

ENDA To Protect Employees

ENDA is closely related to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which helps eliminate discrimination by employers based on race. The goal behind ENDA is to offer that same protection to employees based on their sexual preferences and gender identity. President Barak Obama has made it clear that once passed by Congress, he will sign the bill into law as he strongly supports the beliefs behind it.

Close Call

The vote on whether or not ENDA will be passed as a law is scheduled for tonight. According to current pledge results, the bill’s passage could be tight, as the current number of voters who have pledged their support stands at 59. This is one vote shy of the 60 votes that would be necessary to bring down a Republican filibuster. This margin is not a comfortable one for Democrats, as the bill was defeated back in 1996 by just one vote with a tally of 49-50.

Once ENDA makes it through the Senate, the House of Representatives will have to vote on it. However, the obstacles there are even greater for the Democrats, as John Boehner (R-OH), the House Speaker, may not allow the bill to be brought up for a vote. The Republicans currently control the House with a majority of the votes.

Does ENDA Really Protect Employees From Discrimination?

ENDA is aimed at improving employer relationships with employees by eliminating grounds for discrimination based on choice surrounding the employee’s sexuality.

We can’t soon forget the outrage in the gay and lesbian community last year, when Chic-Fil-A’s president, Dan Cathy, announced his stand on same-sex marriage. While he told the press that he supported heterosexual marriage, many people immediately accused his company of discrimination against gays and lesbians when hiring for open positions.

This was later found to be untrue, but the outrage still pervaded the press for quite some time. The supporters of ENDA intend to eliminate discrimination such as Mr. Cathy’s company was allegedly involved in. However, it raises the question of who it will benefit in the long run.

Will religious organizations be forced to hire employees who are the complete opposite of what they support? Will those with “alternate lifestyles” really get the protection they need when applying for a job, or working in America? Before ENDA is passed, all sides of the matter must be closely examined, with the benefits and drawbacks laid out for the public to easily see. This is one bill that definitely does not need to be rushed through the voting process until the public is reassured that everyone involved on both sides of the issue are protected adequately.

In the meantime, if you have had issues securing employment due to your sexual preferences and lifestyle, apply at Apple Inc. Hey, it’s a good job and you may even score an iPhone 5 as a perk.