IIf media reports from the last 24 hours are accurate, it is unconscionable that congressional leaders would rush to a decision to strip protections for transgender people at the same time as states across the nation are adding these protections at an unprecedented pace.
Over the last few days, we have heard rumors swirling around Capitol Hill about last-minute jitters some Democrats are having about the gender identity language in ENDA. These were expected, as the language was new to the bill this year. Rather than immediately abandoning gender identity at the first sign of nervousness among a few members, House leadership should have worked with the community to shore up the needed support, just as they did when they voted to pass transgender-inclusive hate crimes legislation in the spring.
Gender identity language has twice passed through the House in the hate crimes bill, and earlier this year there were similar last-minute concerns among new members. We were able to overcome them then, and should be given the chance to do so now. It is incredibly ironic that today, the same day news is breaking about the House removing gender identity protections from ENDA, the Senate just voted 60–39 to allow a voice vote on a transgender-inclusive hate crimes bill. The bill then immediately passed.
States as diverse as Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Iowa have all made discriminating against transgender people in the workplace against the law. Thirty-seven percent of Americans now live in jurisdictions that have workplace protections based on gender identity — just 14 percent fewer than the overall number (51 percent) who are protected on the basis of sexual orientation. These victories are a direct result of statewide LGBT rights organizations and state legislative leaders holding firm against last-minute concerns and not giving up at the first sign of trouble.
The Task Force is very proud of our history in being the first national organization to oppose a non-transgender-inclusive ENDA. We have worked very hard to add transgender protections to this bill and now it is time for the final push, not to give up before a fight. We implore Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Miller and Representative Frank to abandon pursuit of a sexual orientation-only bill and return instead to the real work needed to pass a fully-inclusive ENDA that will protect all members of our community.”
Earlier today, the executive directors of nine national LGBT organizations sent a statement opposing the removal of protections for transgender people from ENDA. The statement is below.
Comment on this entry
A couple of days? I reported on that in May. NTAC's lobbyists spoke to more than one Senatorial office that said transgender inclusion was iffy and that there was a good chance it would be stripped. NTAC's lobbyists were castigated by Mara Keisling.
Thank you for putting out this press release. It is very reassuring that you and the eight other organizations are standing in solidarity with us. It's unfortunate that the LCCR and HRC aren't on the list as well.
Thank you so much.
Marti Abernathey | September 27, 2007 1:52 PM
A huge thank you to NGLTF for standing by their promise to demand a trans-inclusive ENDA. We can't start stripping off various parts of our community now to benefit others. It's the typical divide and conquer strategy. By doing so, we'd set ourselves back instead of forward.
Bil Browning | September 27, 2007 2:01 PM
Once again, we in the transgender community have the opportunity to see who our friends really are, and once again, we see HRC, Barney Frank, and their political allies cutting and running when called upon to put rhetoric into action and stand up for the rights of all Americans, even when the going gets rough.
As far as HRC goes, their lack of any kind of statement on the issue, even simply adding their name to a letter supporting a trans-inclusive ENDA, should come as no surprise to anyone. It's hardly the first time they've done this kind of thing and I very much doubt it will be the last.
Barney, I have to admit, disappoints me. I really thought he'd finally come around but clearly he was just waiting for the chance to say "I told you so.", and move forward the "rights for the rich" version of ENDA.
Y'know what, gang? I'm feeling like it's 2004 all over again...how about you? Maybe it's time we started acting like it...seems to be the only way we're going to make any real progress here.
Rebecca Juro | September 27, 2007 7:26 PM
I don't thank our allies nearly as often as I should for standing by us. Thanks to Matt and all the folks at NGLTF for your unwavering stance.
Ethan St. Pierre | September 27, 2007 11:32 PM
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