RUBIO SAYS OK TO FIRE GAYS.I'M NOT GAY, IT'S OK.

FROM THINK PROGRESS

EXCLUSIVE: Rubio Says It Should Be Legal To Fire Someone For Being Gay

By Adam Peck and Scott Keyes posted from ThinkProgress LGBT on Jun 13, 2013 at 3:50 pm

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty)

WASHINGTON, DC — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who is touted as a top GOP presidential prospect in 2016, thinks it should be legal to fire someone for their sexual orientation.

ThinkProgress spoke with the Florida Senator at the opening luncheon of the annual Faith and Freedom Forum on Thursday and asked him about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill to make discrimination against LGBT individuals illegal across the country.

Though Rubio bristles at the notion of being called a “bigot,” he showed no willingness to help protect LGBT workers from discrimination. “I’m not for any special protections based on orientation,” Rubio told ThinkProgress.

KEYES: The Senate this summer is going to be taking up the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which makes it illegal to fire someone for being gay. Do you know if you’ll be supporting that?

RUBIO: I haven’t read the legislation. By and large I think all Americans should be protected but I’m not for any special protections based on orientation.

KEYES: What about on race or gender?

RUBIO: Well that’s established law.

KEYES: But not for sexual orientation?