STATEMENT ON THE HOUSE VOTE ON THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMINATION ACT
EQUALITY FEDERATION | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007
Today, for the first time, the United States House of Representatives passed an employment nondiscrimination act that, if enacted, would ban discrimination against most lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people in the workplace. Equality Federation acknowledges three decades of work by our allies in Congress and by national lgbt organizations who have been passionate and determined to bring this civil rights legislation before Congress.
Many lesbian and gay people will celebrate the passage of this legislation, and it certainly reflects progress in the long march toward equality. However, Equality Federation remains steadfast in its opposition to this bill – not because of what it purports to do, but because of what it fails to do. This bill does not ban discrimination based on gender identity – despite the fact that transgender people experience phenomenally high unemployment rates and are the members of our community most in need of employment protections.
Over the past few weeks, Equality Federation and 40 state organizations have stood with over 350 national, state, and local lgbt groups in the United ENDA coalition to urge Congress to pass legislation that bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender workers. Federation member groups educated their constituents about the importance of inclusive legislation, and tens of thousands of equality supporters from across the country contacted their congressional representatives urging passage of an inclusive ENDA.
Equality Federation and state leaders are profoundly disappointed that these voices were not heard. But we are not defeated. The legislation passed today will not become law. Instead, it will be debated and reintroduced in a future session of Congress. Equality Federation and state organizations will continue educational and lobbying efforts to ensure that the ENDA finally enacted will be an inclusive law.
Twenty states and the District of Columbia already ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Only seven of those states do not ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Our movement has a great deal of experience passing non-discrimination laws at the state level, and our experience is clear: while it sometimes takes additional time and effort to pass inclusive laws, it is far less certain that laws excluding transgender people will be amended even with significant additional time and effort. Yet transgender people are the members of the lgbt community with the highest unemployment rates – and the greatest need for protection against discrimination.
Today we acknowledge the difficult achievement of taking a key congressional step toward the goal of passing a federal employment nondiscrimination law. Tomorrow, Equality Federation will begin work with all of our allies – both within and beyond the United ENDA coalition – to achieve the goal shared by all organizations within the lgbt community: passage of an inclusive employment discrimination law that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
United ENDA Supports Congresswoman Baldwin's newly announced efforts to restore gender identity protections to Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced today that she has secured an agreement from the Democratic leadership to introduce an amendment to H.R. 3685 that would restore gender identity protections to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The amendment would be considered on the House floor next week, after the bill moves through the House Education and Labor Committee this Thursday. After her announcement, the United ENDA coalition released the following statement:
Two weeks ago, our community was told that gender identity would not be included in any version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Congressional Leadership expected our community to acquiesce. However, United ENDA effectively communicated the strong opposition of hundreds of organizations and millions of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to leadership's efforts to advance a stripped down version of the bill.
It is because of our unprecedented efforts that new options, such as the proposed amendment by Congresswoman Baldwin, are able to come before Congress. Members of Congress responded to the successful strategy of our coalition and many expressed their strong desire to vote for an inclusive bill that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Clearly, our preferred strategy is to pass the original ENDA (H.R. 2015) out of committee. However, if we are faced with a non-inclusive bill following the committee vote, we will work with Congresswoman Baldwin to repair ENDA to include protections on the basis of gender identity. We appreciate that Congressional leaders like Congresswoman Baldwin continue to share our commitment to pass an inclusive bill, and we expect Speaker Pelosi and the House leadership will actively support the Baldwin amendment.
RESOURCES:
Explanation of the Baldwin Amendment, Transgender People, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. 10/22/07 (pdf)
The Baldwin amendment 10/22/07 (pdf)
Lobby Report Form 10/22/07 (pdf)
BIRD-DOGGING 101:
Use Your Voice to Get Answers from Policy Makers
10/19/07 (pdf)
Lambda legal analysis of why this bill is bad for the whole community
10/17/07 (doc)
EQUALITY FEDERATION CONTINUES NATIONWIDE PRESSURE ON CONGRESS
State organizations across the country insist on civil rights legislation with full protections, nothing less (pdf)
From NCLR:
Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq. (READ)
Talking Points from NCLR (pdf)
Kate's Blog: One Bill, One Vote: The New ENDA Hurts All Of Us (READ)
ENDA Flyer: To help educate (pdf)
People with HIV and their allies support a TRULY INCLUSIVE
Employment Non-Discrimination Act H.R. 2015 10/8/07 (READ)
Equality Federation Statement 10/03/07 (READ)
It's Your History—Use It!
Talking Points for Tran-Inclusive ENDA Activists (READ/DOWNLOAD PDF)
Legislation Itself: Inclusive Bill is HR 2015
Bad Bill is HR 3685
TransYouth Family Advocates Letter #1 (READ)
TransYouth Family Advocates Letter#2 (READ)
Equality Federation: Executive Director Statement (READ)
NEWS COVERAGE:
We deserve better
Editorial, Bay Area Reporter Online
Thursday, October 4, 2007 (READ)
ENDA: We've only just begun
Christine Daniels, LA Times Blogs: Woman in Progress
Wednesday, October 3, 2007 (READ)
Gay rights groups angered by weaker antidiscrimination bill
Carolyn Lochhead, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 (READ)
Chairman Andrews on ENDA
by: Jay Lassiter, BlueJersey,com
Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 03:38:40 PM EDT (READ)
Rep. Andrews on ENDA Disintegration "We Don't Have The Votes"
Queerty, October 2, 2007 (READ)
Barney Frank Bails on the Transgender Community
Posted October 1, 2007 | 11:37 AM (EST) (READ)
A Moment of Truth
Bilerico.com, September 29, 2007 (READ)
Press Releases by Empire State Pride Agenda:
Community Letter:
United opposition to sexual-orientation-only employment nondiscrimination legislation
October 1, 2007
Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives:
The undersigned represent the vast and celebrated diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in this country. Some of us are national leaders of organizations with tens of thousands of members and constituents, some of us run the only local organization in our state. But we are united in a common cause: We ask you to keep working with us on an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects everyone in our community, and to oppose any substitute legislation that leaves some of us behind.
We ask and hope that in this moment of truth, you will stand for the courage real leadership sometimes demands. You each command enormous respect from all of us and we do appreciate the difficulty of balancing a variety of competing demands. But the correct course in this case and on this legislation is strikingly clear. We oppose legislation that leaves part of our community without protections and basic security that the rest of us are provided.
You told us you supported a fully inclusive ENDA and would bring it up for a vote this year. We expect that you will honor that commitment and we look forward to working together to pass a bill that we can all be proud to support.
Sincerely,
Coalition Members (listed in right column)
List of current co-sponsors of the good ENDA bill:
171 Co-Sponsors, their District, and the date they signed on: (READ)
Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Arcuri, Michael A. [NY-24] - 6/22/2007
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 7/17/2007
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 7/30/2007
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 6/7/2007
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 5/23/2007
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 4/24/2007
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] - 6/22/2007
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 4/26/2007
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 5/9/2007
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 5/16/2007
Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] - 9/19/2007
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 5/2/2007
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 9/19/2007
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 4/24/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 4/24/2007
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 5/16/2007
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 5/8/2007
Rep Castor, Kathy [FL-11] - 6/22/2007
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 5/9/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 5/2/2007
Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] - 7/30/2007
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 9/5/2007
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 6/26/2007
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 4/24/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 4/24/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 8/2/2007
Rep Davis, Susan A. [CA-53] - 4/24/2007
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep DeGette, Diana [CO-1] - 5/2/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 4/24/2007
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 7/30/2007
Rep Dicks, Norman D. [WA-6] - 5/8/2007
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] - 4/24/2007
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 4/24/2007
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 4/24/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 4/24/2007
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 7/11/2007
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 4/24/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 5/2/2007
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 4/24/2007
Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] - 6/7/2007
Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 6/26/2007
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 4/24/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 5/1/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 9/19/2007
Rep Hall, John J. [NY-19] - 8/1/2007
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 6/15/2007
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 6/28/2007
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 4/24/2007
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 6/28/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 4/24/2007
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 4/24/2007
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Hodes, Paul W. [NH-2] - 5/1/2007
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 5/1/2007
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 4/24/2007
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 4/24/2007
Rep Hooley, Darlene [OR-5] - 9/4/2007
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] - 9/4/2007
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 5/16/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 5/9/2007
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 4/24/2007
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 7/17/2007
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 4/24/2007
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 5/1/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 4/26/2007
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/2/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 4/24/2007
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 5/1/2007
Rep Klein, Ron [FL-22] - 5/23/2007
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 9/5/2007
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 5/24/2007
Rep Larsen, Rick [WA-2] - 9/26/2007
Rep Larson, John B. [CT-1] - 5/23/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 4/26/2007
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 4/24/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 7/11/2007
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 4/24/2007
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 4/26/2007
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 4/26/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 4/24/2007
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 4/24/2007
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 5/9/2007
Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 9/4/2007
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 4/24/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 4/24/2007
Rep McNerney, Jerry [CA-11] - 7/11/2007
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 4/26/2007
Rep Meehan, Martin T. [MA-5] - 4/24/2007
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 9/26/2007
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 6/13/2007
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 7/17/2007
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 5/23/2007
Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] - 7/19/2007
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 4/24/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 7/11/2007
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 4/24/2007
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] - 4/26/2007
Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] - 5/16/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 4/24/2007
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 5/1/2007
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 4/24/2007
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 4/24/2007
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 4/24/2007
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 4/24/2007
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 4/26/2007
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 6/28/2007
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 9/5/2007
Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] - 4/24/2007
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 4/24/2007
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 6/22/2007
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 6/28/2007
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 4/24/2007
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 5/1/2007
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 7/19/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 8/1/2007
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 7/17/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 4/24/2007
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] - 7/11/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 5/1/2007
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 4/24/2007
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3] - 5/8/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 6/7/2007
Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 5/1/2007
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] - 5/2/2007
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 5/8/2007
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 4/24/2007
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 5/23/2007
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 6/7/2007
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 6/13/2007
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 6/26/2007
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 5/8/2007
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 5/9/2007
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 6/7/2007
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 5/16/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 9/19/2007
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 4/26/2007
Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] - 6/26/2007
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 4/24/2007
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 5/1/2007
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] - 6/28/2007
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 5/9/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 5/16/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 7/17/2007
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 7/19/2007
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 4/24/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 5/1/2007
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 6/15/2007
Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 4/24/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 5/16/2007
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 4/24/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 4/24/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 6/13/2007
