Tammy Baldwin has finally done it. What's it, you may ask? Well, for her harshest critics, "it" may be anything at all — U.S. Rep. Baldwin, D-Wis., has been pegged as one of the least effective members of Congress since she was elected to her post back in 1998. But for those who saw her potential from the beginning, "it" is her recent move to reintroduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act into Congress. While Ms. Baldwin has been lauded for her dedication to improving education — she supported increasing federal financial aid and has always been a close ally to UW students — it is no secret that, as an openly gay congresswoman, fairness and equality in terms of sexuality has always been of paramount importance to her. The objective of the bill is to make job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal. The state of Wisconsin already has this policy on the books — it was actually the first state to do so in 1982 — but Ms. Baldwin wants to see the campaign spread on the national level. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that only 17 of the 50 states prohibit employment discrimination due to someone's sexual orientation. While the success of the bill may seem to be the natural step forward for a nation that prides itself on its equal and fair standards, in truth, the bill is just as controversial as ever. In fact, the history of the ENDA is a complicated one and actually precedes Ms. Baldwin herself. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, similar bills have failed to pass since 1974; one came close in 1996 but lost by a single Senate vote. As shocking as it may be, the thought of gays being guaranteed treatment equal to heterosexuals, members of different racial groups and even women is something that to this day many Americans just can't seem to accept. But maybe, just maybe, we're finally in luck. Up until now, the power of conservatives in Congress has been the chief reason this legislation never succeeded. Political analysts are predicting that the combination of the newly Democrat-controlled Congress and bipartisan support could push the bill across. In addition to Ms. Baldwin, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, along with more than 25 other supporters back the bill. While states may be taking strides to prevent such discrimination, a federal law is imperative. So much of American culture promotes the idea of hard work and dedication — qualities of the quintessential American that have nothing to do with someone's sexuality. The ability to succeed at a job is not determined by race, gender or sexual orientation. So why is it so difficult to add sexual orientation to the category of characteristics that cannot be held against a job applicant? I am reminded of the hypocrisy that surrounds this issue by some recent statistics about the U.S. armed forces, which has maintained stringent rules against gays joining the military under the heading of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The justification has been that allowing gays to serve openly jeopardizes the fighting group's unity and causes logistical nightmares. But according to The Associated Press, it turns out that fewer and fewer gays have been discharged from the military in recent years. The most obvious conclusion is that as manpower needs have grown during the war, the armed forces have found it more convenient to overlook the existence of gays in the ranks. But it is possible that, at the same time, the armed forces are recognizing implicitly that there is no reason that gays cannot do the job as well as others. And, ironically, the armed forces may be leading the way yet again — as they once did by desegregating the Army. Just as the military has been forced to realize sexual orientation has little bearing on one's ability to serve our country in a war (and perhaps die for it), Congress must also come to terms with the blatant discrimination occurring in states that permit employers to deny applicants on the basis of their sexual preference. It is long overdue that Congress — with the help of strong-minded women like Ms. Baldwin — lets homosexuals enjoy the same rights as the rest of us. Emily Friedman ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and legal studies.