The omnibus federal anti-discrimination in employment statute, Title VII, does not include sexual orientation among its protected classes. Similarly, twenty-nine states permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.   New York does not.

Congressman Barney Frank intends to reintroduce a bill to bar such discrimination. Although recent polls show that perhaps a majority of the public supports laws that ban various types of discrimination against gays and lesbians, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is unlikely to let this one get to the floor.