Chicago, IL —
Illinois Rep. Bob Dold is criticized for his opposition to a gay workplace protections bill in an ad released Wednesday by Democratic rival Brad Schneider.
Dold, who represents parts of Chicago, in 2010 replaced incumbent Mark Kirk, who now serves the people of Illinois in the Senate.
Unlike his predecessor, Dold is opposed to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would bar workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
In the spot, Schneider is heard saying: "Too many Americans have lost their jobs. Unsure about what to do next and coming home to the longest walk of their lives; down the hall to tell the ones they love. For some it's not because of the work they've done but because of who they are. My opponent continues to stand with an extreme minority opposing workplace protections for millions of Americans." (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)
"Congressman Dold and the Tea Party Republican Majority in Washington have stonewalled progress; and, because of their out-of-touch policies, millions of Americans can be fired for nothing more than being honest about themselves," Reed Adamson, campaign manager for Schneider for Congress, said in a statement. "In these difficult times, we should be making sure that people are safe in their jobs and secure in their economic well being, not making it easier to fire them without legitimate cause. That's why Brad is running – to overcome the extreme, right-wing ideology in Washington and stand up for what's right."
Schneider has the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest gay rights advocate.
