a study shows "unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation occurs with the same high frequency in state and local governments as in the private sector," says brad sears, executive director of the williams institute. he told this to a congressional panel.

brad sears presented the findings panthers nfl during a hearing of the house education and labor committee on the employment non-discrimination act of 2009, which would prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by employers with 15 or more employees.

workplace discrimination on those bases is now legal in a majority of states.

"our findings clearly demonstrate that discrimination against members of the lgbt community is persistent and occurs at all levels of government," sears said. "this is exactly the philadelphia eagles kind of data that was presented to support passage of earlier civil rights legislation, and congress should act now to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

the study found that one in five lgbt employees has suffered discrimination, on the basis of their sexual orientation. further findings were that a significant men's new jersey devils wage gap exists between lgbt employees and their heterosexual counterparts.

the williams institute for sexual orientation law