simple_enum_blank_fix.patch

diff --git a/lib/simple_enum.rb b/lib/simple_enum.rb
index 9c1fa3f..68792a1 100644
--- a/lib/simple_enum.rb
+++ b/lib/simple_enum.rb
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ module SimpleEnum
     
       # generate setter
       define_method("#{enum_cd}=") do |new_value|
-        v = new_value.nil? ? nil : values[new_value.to_sym]        
-        raise(ArgumentError, "Invalid enumeration value: #{new_value}") if (options[:whiny] and v.nil? and !new_value.nil?)
+        v = new_value.blank? ? nil : values[new_value.to_sym]
+        raise(ArgumentError, "Invalid enumeration value: #{new_value}") if (options[:whiny] and v.nil? and !new_value.blank?)
         write_attribute options[:column], v
       end
     
diff --git a/test/simple_enum_test.rb b/test/simple_enum_test.rb
index 6aed8c2..83bc4dc 100644
--- a/test/simple_enum_test.rb
+++ b/test/simple_enum_test.rb
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ class SimpleEnumTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     
     d = not_whiny.new :gender => :foo
     assert_nil(d.gender)
+    d.gender = ''
+    assert_nil(d.gender)
   end
   
   test "ensure that setting to 'nil' works if :whiny => true and :whiny => false" do
@@ -84,6 +86,8 @@ class SimpleEnumTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     assert_equal(:male, d.gender)
     d.gender = nil
     assert_nil(d.gender)
+    d.gender = ''
+    assert_nil(d.gender)
     
     not_whiny_again = Class.new(Dummy) do
       as_enum :gender, [:male, :female], :whiny => false
@@ -92,6 +96,8 @@ class SimpleEnumTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
     d = not_whiny_again.new :gender => :male
     assert_equal(:male, d.gender)
     d.gender = nil
-    assert_nil(d.gender)    
+    assert_nil(d.gender)
+    d.gender = ''
+    assert_nil(d.gender)
   end
 end