President Barack Obama wants to see the long-stalled Employment Non-Discrimination Act enacted but he remains unwilling to go around congress and sign it into law by Executive Order.

Obama, appearing with Vice President Joe Biden at the LGBT Pride Month Reception at The White House Thursday (13 June), said of ENDA: 'We need to get that passed. I want to sign that bill, we need to get it done now.'

He added: 'I think we can make that happen because after the last four-and-a-half years, you can't tell me things can't happen.'

One of the shining lights of the Republican Party, reaffirmed his opposition to anti-discrimination laws for gay and lesbian workers.

The governor of Puerto Rico signed bills into law on Wednesday (29 May) that protect LGBT people against discrimination and adds to the country's domestic violence law protections for sexual orientation, marital status and gender identity.

Governor Alejandro García Padilla signed the legislation at his official residence in San Juan and issued a statement via Twitter: 'The dignity of being a human being is inviolable because we are all the same and we must be equal under the law.'

Philadelphia is now the only US city with wide ranging legislation to protect LGBT citizens and families.

Last week, on 9 May (Thursday), Mayor Michael Nutter signed Bill No. 130224. According to the city's website, the new law provides a tax credit to 'employers who offer health benefits to same-sex couples, life partners and transgender employees.'  No other city in the US offers such benefits to employers.

The proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has long languished in the US C0ngress, was introduced again on Thursday (25 April) by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

Among the co-sponsors optimistic of the bill's chances is Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley (pictured) who believes the timing may finally be right for passage.

Bob Casey, US senator from Pennsylvania, came out in favor of marriage equality on Monday (1 April) and also called for the end of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Casey had been under increasing pressure after four of his Democratic colleagues in the senate switched their positions last week when the US Supreme Court heard cases challenging DOMA and California's Proposition 8.

President Barack Obama is facing increased pressure to take matters into his hands when it comes to the long-stalled Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Obama received a letter on Wednesday (20 March) from 110 members of the US Congress asking him to sign ENDA into law by executive order rather than hoping a Republican-led House of Representatives will ever pass it.

Obama has said previously that he supports ENDA but would like to see it passed by Congress in much the same way the end of the anti-gay military policy Don't Ask Don't Tell was handled.

Republican congressman, Tim Huelskamp is introducing the 'Military Religious Freedom Protection Act', a bill which aims to ban on gay marriages on military bases.

On the surface the bill appears to 'protect' military chaplains, 'ensuring' that they cannot be penalized if their religious beliefs are not pro-gay, however commentators pointed out such provision already exist.

It's clear President Barack Obama is in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) but he wants to see it passed by US Congress in the same way the repeal of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell was during his first term in office.

But LGBT groups and now a group of 37 US senators are putting pressure on Obama to take action now to protect the employment rights of LGBT people by issuing an executive order to add sexual orientation and gender identity to other long-standing federal anti-discrimination protections.

For decades, the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has languished in the US C0ngress.

But Iowa Senator Tom Harkin on Tuesday (12 February) promised at least a vote for that ENDA, which would establish protections nationally to prevent employers from discriminating against an employee because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Harkin made the pledge at an event held at the Center for American Progress in Washington DC saying that ENDA 'will move this year.'

Virginia’s Senate has passed a bill prohibiting state government from discriminating against employees because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The bill, known as SB 701, passed in the state’s Senate with a 24-16 vote yesterday (25 January).

The move was applauded by Equality Virginia’s executive director James Parrish who said: ‘We are pleased that four Republican senators joined their Democratic colleagues in passing SB 701 to protect LGBT state employees’.

Netto, a Danish-owned supermarket chain, was instructed to pay former till-attendant Ireneusz Muzalski 18,000 zloty (€ 4,400  US$ 5,770), as well as court costs.

Muzalski, a 44 year-old man, was employed at the Netto branch in Slubice, lying on Poland’s border with Germany, reported Radio Poland.

According to him, his manager subjected him to continuous anti-gay verbal abuse.