This afternoon, the United States Senate passed historic gay rights legislation in its approval of theEmployment Non-Discrimination Act, which would provide protections in the workplace to workers and job applicants who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.Any private employer with more than 15 employees would be precluded from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or transgender status. However, an exemption is included for religious groups.The measure adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of characteristics that cannot be discriminated against in the workplace passed by a vote of 64-32 — a slightly stronger showing than an earlier vote to move forward on the legislation, which passed 61-30.The bill, widely referred to as ENDA, was introduced with bipartisan support.ENDA is not expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives, due to opposition to the measure by Speaker John Boehner.