About 20 people demonstrated Tuesday near the intersection of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue, calling on Sen. Harry Reid to support a bill banning workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Officials arrested eight people during the demonstration at, charging them with blocking traffic and obstructing a police officer after they failed to follow a lawful order to disperse.

GetEQUAL, the group holding the demonstration, is a new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender direct action group whose mission is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action and demand full legal and social equality, organizers said.

Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL, said the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would enact federal workplace protections for the LGBT community, has been bouncing around Congress since 1974.

Now, she said, it looks like the bill has enough votes in the House, but it is still short in the Senate — a place Reid’s vote can make a difference.

GetEQUAL, a national organization, partnered with local LGBT activists and people from neighboring Arizona and California for Tuesday’s demonstration.

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