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House proposal to protect LGBT workers passes after chaotic first vote

By Andrew V. Pestano
The floor of the U.S. House of Representatives saw chaos last week after a proposal that would have protected the LGBT community failed to pass. The proposal, which would prevent federal contractors from receiving contacts from the federal government if those contractors discriminated against gay, lesbian and transgender people, passed late Wednesday. File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
The floor of the U.S. House of Representatives saw chaos last week after a proposal that would have protected the LGBT community failed to pass. The proposal, which would prevent federal contractors from receiving contacts from the federal government if those contractors discriminated against gay, lesbian and transgender people, passed late Wednesday. File photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a proposal late Wednesday to protect federal workers in the LGBT community from being fired after the measure dramatically failed to pass last week.

The proposal, authored by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., would prevent federal contractors from receiving contacts from the federal government if those contractors discriminated against gay, lesbian and transgender people.

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The measure, which is attached to an annual spending bill for energy and water programs, passed with a 223-195 vote. Maloney, who is openly gay, re-introduced his proposal, which he said was "to redo a mistake."

Democratic members of the House became enraged after the amendment failed last Thursday. Democrats chanted "shame" after Republicans found enough votes to defeat the amendment 213-212 shortly after the allotted time to vote ran out when it was initially going to pass 217-206.

RELATED House Democrats unruly after LGBT protection amendment narrowly fails

Democrats thought they had enough Republicans supporting the measure but then several changed their votes.

"After all of the division last week, it's refreshing to see so many friends, colleagues from both sides of the aisle support equality, " Maloney said Wednesday.

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