How can you get involved, where's your local vigil? What is the latest information and how do you know what's true? Check it all out on unitedenda.org
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
UnitedENDA.org
How can you get involved, where's your local vigil? What is the latest information and how do you know what's true? Check it all out on unitedenda.org
It's about time!
HRC Signs on ENDA
Mon Oct 1, 2007 10:03 pm (PST)
October 1, 2007
The Honorable George Miller, Chairman
Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Miller:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to express our
opposition to the strategy and
process by which the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3685) is
to be considered in the
House of Representatives. We ask that the markup in the House
Education and Labor
Committee, scheduled for less than 24 hours from now, be canceled.
For many years, we have worked to develop an employment non-
discrimination bill that protects
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our
organizations support the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act as introduced (H.R. 2015).
Although we believe that the bill's sponsor, Congressman Barney
Frank (D-MA), and the House
Democratic Leadership have a sincere desire to protect the LGBT
community from
discrimination, we believe the process and strategy that has been
adopted is a mistake. That
mistake is compounded by moving forward with a markup tomorrow.
If you have any questions or need further information, please
contact Nancy Zirkin, LCCR Vice
President, at (202) 263-2880 or Rob Randhava, LCCR Counsel, at (202)
466-6058.
Sincerely,
American Civil Liberties Union
American Friends Service Committee
Gender Public Advocacy Coalition
Human Rights Campaign
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Legal Momentum
National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Community Centers
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Council of Jewish Women
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG National)
People For the American Way
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
OFFICERS
CHAIRPERSON
Dorothy I. Height
National Council of Negro Women
VICE CHAIRPERSONS
Judith L. Lichtman
National Partnership for
Women & Families
Karen K. Narasaki
Asian American Justice Center
William L. Taylor
Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights
SECRETARY
William D. Novelli
AARP
TREASURER
Gerald W. McEntee
AFSCME
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Barbara Arnwine
Lawyers' Committee For Civil
Rights Under Law
Robert W. Edgar
National Council of Churches
Caroline Fredrickson
American Civil Liberties Union
Kim Gandy
National Organization for Women
Ron Gettelfinger
International Union, United
Automobile Workers of America
Bruce S. Gordon
NAACP
Marcia Greenberger
National Women's Law Center
Andrew J. Imparato
American Association of People with
Disabilities
Jacqueline Johnson
National Congress of
American Indians
Edward J. McElroy
American Federation of Teachers,
AFL-CIO
Floyd Mori
Japanese American Citizens League
Marc H. Morial
National Urban League
Janet Murguia
National Council of La Raza
Ralph G. Neas
People For the American Way
Debra Ness
National Partnership for Women and
Families
David Saperstein
Union for Reform Judaism
Theodore M. Shaw
NAACP Legal Defense &
Educational Fund, Inc.
Shanna L. Smith
National Fair Housing Alliance
Joe Solmonese
Human Rights Campaign
Andrew L. Stern
Service Employees
International Union
John Trasvina
Mexican American Legal Defense
and Educational Fund
Reg Weaver
National Education Association
Michele Warholic Wetherald
American Association of
University Women
Mary G. Wilson
League of Women Voters of
the United States
Richard Womack
AFL-CIO
COMPLIANCE/ENFORCEM ENT
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
Karen K. Narasaki
Asian American Justice Center
PRESIDENT & CEO
Wade J. Henderson
Leadership Conference
on Civil Rights
1629 K Street, NW
10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: 202-466-3311
Fax: 202-466-3435
www.civilrights. org
Cc: Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker
Representative Barney Frank
Representative Tammy Baldwin
The Honorable George Miller, Chairman
Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Miller:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to express our
opposition to the strategy and
process by which the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3685) is
to be considered in the
House of Representatives. We ask that the markup in the House
Education and Labor
Committee, scheduled for less than 24 hours from now, be canceled.
For many years, we have worked to develop an employment non-
discrimination bill that protects
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our
organizations support the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act as introduced (H.R. 2015).
Although we believe that the bill's sponsor, Congressman Barney
Frank (D-MA), and the House
Democratic Leadership have a sincere desire to protect the LGBT
community from
discrimination, we believe the process and strategy that has been
adopted is a mistake. That
mistake is compounded by moving forward with a markup tomorrow.
If you have any questions or need further information, please
contact Nancy Zirkin, LCCR Vice
President, at (202) 263-2880 or Rob Randhava, LCCR Counsel, at (202)
466-6058.
Sincerely,
American Civil Liberties Union
American Friends Service Committee
Gender Public Advocacy Coalition
Human Rights Campaign
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
Legal Momentum
National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Community Centers
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Council of Jewish Women
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG National)
People For the American Way
Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
OFFICERS
CHAIRPERSON
Dorothy I. Height
National Council of Negro Women
VICE CHAIRPERSONS
Judith L. Lichtman
National Partnership for
Women & Families
Karen K. Narasaki
Asian American Justice Center
William L. Taylor
Citizens' Commission on Civil Rights
SECRETARY
William D. Novelli
AARP
TREASURER
Gerald W. McEntee
AFSCME
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Barbara Arnwine
Lawyers' Committee For Civil
Rights Under Law
Robert W. Edgar
National Council of Churches
Caroline Fredrickson
American Civil Liberties Union
Kim Gandy
National Organization for Women
Ron Gettelfinger
International Union, United
Automobile Workers of America
Bruce S. Gordon
NAACP
Marcia Greenberger
National Women's Law Center
Andrew J. Imparato
American Association of People with
Disabilities
Jacqueline Johnson
National Congress of
American Indians
Edward J. McElroy
American Federation of Teachers,
AFL-CIO
Floyd Mori
Japanese American Citizens League
Marc H. Morial
National Urban League
Janet Murguia
National Council of La Raza
Ralph G. Neas
People For the American Way
Debra Ness
National Partnership for Women and
Families
David Saperstein
Union for Reform Judaism
Theodore M. Shaw
NAACP Legal Defense &
Educational Fund, Inc.
Shanna L. Smith
National Fair Housing Alliance
Joe Solmonese
Human Rights Campaign
Andrew L. Stern
Service Employees
International Union
John Trasvina
Mexican American Legal Defense
and Educational Fund
Reg Weaver
National Education Association
Michele Warholic Wetherald
American Association of
University Women
Mary G. Wilson
League of Women Voters of
the United States
Richard Womack
AFL-CIO
COMPLIANCE/ENFORCEM ENT
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
Karen K. Narasaki
Asian American Justice Center
PRESIDENT & CEO
Wade J. Henderson
Leadership Conference
on Civil Rights
1629 K Street, NW
10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
Phone: 202-466-3311
Fax: 202-466-3435
www.civilrights. org
Cc: Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker
Representative Barney Frank
Representative Tammy Baldwin
Sister Bingo 101
We're having our first Sister Bingo! Come and learn what that means for Phoenix and help raise funds for a local charity while having fun! I'm looking forward to it personally and have been working on a painting to donate to the prizes. So Join us at Friends!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Good News and an Opportunity
| Good News and an Incredible Opportunity for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act |
| A Statement from NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling After a very long day (long week really) on Capitol Hill, we are very pleased to be able to share some great news. Our allies in Congress have postponed tomorrow's committee action on the substitute Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), giving us more time to win support for the original transgender-inclusive version (H.R. 2015). NCTE expresses appreciation to our Congressional allies for being so open to our calls of solidarity. We also express our deepest appreciation to everyone who has stepped up and joined in sending a very clear message to Congress that we all insist on federal employment protections that protect all LGBT people. We have been handed an amazing opportunity. The entire LGBT community is now focused on passing a fully inclusive ENDA. Transgender people particularly have gotten involved in record numbers. We need to sustain that involvement and indeed turn it up even louder for the next few weeks. We will be continuing to coordinate closely with the growing number of allies who are so intent on seeing victory through with us. It is important that transgender people and allies continue contacting their members of Congress asking them to support ENDA in order to protect all LGBT people. It's working. Keep it up. Step it up. Additional action alerts will be forthcoming. |
| The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. The National Center for Transgender Equality is a 501(c)3 organization. For more information, please visit www.nctequality.org. We need your support to continue this work. Click here to join our mailing list or to donate now. Thank you! |
Lamda Legal's Analysis on proposed ENDA changes - this bodes well for no GLB
Lambda Legal’s Analysis of Stripped Down Version of ENDA: Gender Identity Protections Gone and Inadequate Protections for Lesbians and Gay Men
‘You can’t be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but you can be fired if your boss thinks you fit their stereotype of one.’
(New York, October 1, 2007) — Lambda Legal's preliminary assessment of the revised version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act shows the bill to be riddled with loopholes in addition to failing altogether to protect transgender people against discrimination.
"Leaving out protections for transgender people is unacceptable, and passing a bill riddled with loopholes will make it harder to achieve equality on the job," said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director at Lambda Legal. "You can't be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but you can be fired if your boss thinks you fit their stereotype of one."
"After working together for so many years on a bill to provide protections for the LGBT community on the job — we can do better than this," Cathcart added.
Preliminary Analysis Summary:
As a point of clarity for the community: The recent version is not simply the old version with the transgender protections stripped out — but rather has modified the old version in several additional and troubling ways.
In addition to the missing vital protections for transgender people on the job, this new bill also leaves out a key element to protect any employee, including lesbians and gay men who may not conform to their employer's idea of how a man or woman should look and act. This is a huge loophole through which employers sued for sexual orientation discrimination can claim that their conduct was actually based on gender expression, a type of discrimination that the new bill does not prohibit.
This version of ENDA states without qualification that refusal by employers to extend health insurance benefits to the domestic partners of their employees that are provided only to married couples cannot be considered sexual orientation discrimination. The old version at least provided that states and local governments could require that employees be provided domestic partner health insurance when such benefits are provided to spouses.
In the previous version of ENDA the religious exemptions had some limitations. The new version has a blanket exemption under which, for example, hospitals or universities run by faith-based groups can fire or refuse to hire people they think might be gay or lesbian.
Lambda Legal has long worked on employment discrimination issues and has represented clients who have faced discrimination or harassment at work based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
###
Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext.266; Email: lhardaway@lambdalegal.org
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
document updated 10/01/07
‘You can’t be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but you can be fired if your boss thinks you fit their stereotype of one.’
(New York, October 1, 2007) — Lambda Legal's preliminary assessment of the revised version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act shows the bill to be riddled with loopholes in addition to failing altogether to protect transgender people against discrimination.
"Leaving out protections for transgender people is unacceptable, and passing a bill riddled with loopholes will make it harder to achieve equality on the job," said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director at Lambda Legal. "You can't be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but you can be fired if your boss thinks you fit their stereotype of one."
"After working together for so many years on a bill to provide protections for the LGBT community on the job — we can do better than this," Cathcart added.
Preliminary Analysis Summary:
As a point of clarity for the community: The recent version is not simply the old version with the transgender protections stripped out — but rather has modified the old version in several additional and troubling ways.
In addition to the missing vital protections for transgender people on the job, this new bill also leaves out a key element to protect any employee, including lesbians and gay men who may not conform to their employer's idea of how a man or woman should look and act. This is a huge loophole through which employers sued for sexual orientation discrimination can claim that their conduct was actually based on gender expression, a type of discrimination that the new bill does not prohibit.
This version of ENDA states without qualification that refusal by employers to extend health insurance benefits to the domestic partners of their employees that are provided only to married couples cannot be considered sexual orientation discrimination. The old version at least provided that states and local governments could require that employees be provided domestic partner health insurance when such benefits are provided to spouses.
In the previous version of ENDA the religious exemptions had some limitations. The new version has a blanket exemption under which, for example, hospitals or universities run by faith-based groups can fire or refuse to hire people they think might be gay or lesbian.
Lambda Legal has long worked on employment discrimination issues and has represented clients who have faced discrimination or harassment at work based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
###
Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext.266; Email: lhardaway@lambdalegal.org
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.
document updated 10/01/07
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