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S 811 112th Congress Senate Labor and Employment Census and government statistics Civil actions and liability Employment discrimination and employee rights Government information and archives Government liability Marriage and family status Military personnel and dependents Religion Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011

Introduced: April 13, 2011 Introduced by: Merkley, Jeff Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 12, 2012
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-915.
Apr 13, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Apr 13, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims.

Prohibits related retaliation.

Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations, and (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces. Declares that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran.

Provides for the construction of this Act regarding: (1) enforcement by employers of rules and policies, (2) sexual harassment, (3) certain shared facilities such as showers or dressing facilities, (4) construction of new or additional facilities, (5) dress and grooming standards, and (6) provision of employee benefits to married vs. unmarried couples. Declares that, in this Act, "married" refers to marriage as that term is defined in the Defense of Marriage Act (a legal union between one man and one woman).

Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics.

Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress (LOC), the Attorney General (DOJ), and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws.

Allows actions and proceedings, subject to exception, against the United States and the states.

What's happening now June 12, 2012

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-915.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 811: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-811/
MLA
"S. 811: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-811/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 811, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-811/.
Markdown link
[S. 811: Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-811/)
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