Fully inclusive, with 8 bipartisan cosponsors, here's ENDA.
An assistant to U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) revealed Wednesday that the congressman will introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act next week.
Diego Sanchez, who is transgender and a senior policy adviser to Frank, said the bill will be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. He noted it will include the legislative language Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) used in 2007 in an attempt to restore gender identity provisions to an earlier version of the bill.
OK, let's get to work on this one. Obama's memo to give a few weak benefits to federal employees is small potatoes compared to a law that would be our first federal civil rights win. This will be the starting point to build on for future civil rights legislation.
But we won't let it be split, because lawmakers have to get used to the fact that transgender people are just as in need and just as deserving of legal protections as LGB people and we're going to go through as a group. If they split up the community this early in the game, they'll have effectively divided and probably conquered.
And HRC, we'll be paying attention. The gay and lesbian people are more aware of transgender issues and much less patient this time around, so don't fuck this up.
Just to remind everyone about HRC's position on the ENDA from this year:
HRC Board ENDA Policy
3/25/2009
It's the policy of HRC that the organization will only support an inclusive ENDA. In 2007 House leadership informed us that there were insufficient votes to pass an inclusive bill, so they decided to vote on a sexual orientation only bill. We made a one time exception to our policy in 2007 because we strongly believed that supporting this vote would do more to advance inclusive legislation. We will not support such a strategy again. We look forward to Congress sending President Obama a fully inclusive ENDA for his signature.
Unlike the Southern Comfort Conference, which got limited coverage in the not-specifically-trans LGBT media, hopefully people will remember their position this time around because this statement made its rounds. We have to hold our orgs accountable.
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11 Comments
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"OK, let's get to work on this one."
Do you have any suggestions as to how?
mcc | June 17, 2009 5:38 PM
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Yes, join the Facebook campaign "Inclusive ENDA" to educate undecided legislators. We have 2500 people ready, willing and able to do just that. Here's the link: http://bit.ly/WAo3Q Join us!
Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 17, 2009 8:12 PM
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Besides, Ros-Lehtinen, who are the other Republican co-sponsors?
Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | June 17, 2009 7:17 PM
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Thank you Alex. This is a real issue, maybe the realest. Call your congress persons and senate queens immediately.
Wilberforce | June 17, 2009 8:42 PM
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Will John Boehner be on board this time around? Will it be another bipartisan effort to deny us rights?
Will it be gutted a little or a lot?
Will it be fully inclusive? If it is then why did Barney and the Republicans gut it in 2007?
All those attending the national March on Washington should make inclusion a priority. Democrats certainly won't.
Bill Perdue | June 17, 2009 10:11 PM
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Just want to say thank you, Bill, for noting that inclusion is a priority.
Antonia D'orsay | June 18, 2009 6:37 AM
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You're welcome of course, but inclusion is a principle as mcuh as it's a priority.
Imagine excluding one of our communities from a civil rights bill. Only the Democrats could be so grotesque and disgusting. Imagine launching a hateful attack on one of our communities because they had the backbone to stand up for themselves and demand inclusion. The Republicans are just as bigoted, the difference is they’re honest about it.
Frank, Baldwin and every Democrat who votes for the gutted bill, and their apologists, are crossing the line of principle. Not that you'd expect most Democrats to have principles or even uderstand why they might be important.
Bill Perdue | June 18, 2009 3:59 PM
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It is gutted now Bill. The exceptions make it a largely toothless document if one has any legal imagination, this one is just a trans-inclusive toothless document.
MauraHennessey | June 17, 2009 11:29 PM
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I didn't know it was the same crapola they passed in 2007 to the thunderous applause of the and the Chamber of Commerce. But it makes sense.
Thanks for the info.
Bill Perdue | June 18, 2009 2:09 AM
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^^^^^ Oops, that the "RNC and the Chamber of Commerce". I didn't mean to slight any of Barney's bedmates.
Bill Perdue | June 18, 2009 2:13 AM
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I'm confused. Is this bill "inclusive?" Does it include both LGB and T? Does it include housing, education, credit and public accommodations or just employment? How big are the loopholes for religious institutions?
Maybe we should examine closely the pig that HRC and national organizations are willing to sell their souls for -- and then crow about to us, while digging in our pockets for further donations.
And if they have NO Senate sponsors, then this is another symbolic fight in the House. I doubt that Congress has any stomach for that, when they have so many other issues that loom larger which MUST be solved.
I am wagering we MAY get ONE issue through Congress - both houses - this year. That MIGHT be Matthew Shepard Act, because it's supposedly on track in the Senate.
stonewall+40 | June 18, 2009 7:32 AM
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