(Washington) The trade union movement is taking a greater role in fighting for LGBT civil rights - from negotiating contracts with protections for gay workers, lobbying Congress for rights bills, and speaking out in favor of same-sex marriage.

The Transport Workers Union of America is the latest union to announce its support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The legislation was introduced in Congress last month. It would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

"You can't just wish discrimination away," said Transport Workers Union of America President James C. Little. "The civil rights movement taught us that. We need a federal law that protects workers not only from discrimination in the workplace but from the evil of discriminatory and antiquated state laws as well. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is the law we need and we need it now."

Little said passage of ENDA has the full support of the unions 130,000 workers nationwide. The union represents workers in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO which has been a longtime supporter of LGBT rights.