ENDA must encompass ALL

ENDA MUST ENCOMPASS ALL

Congress is paying attention: Make your voice heard - again!

Last week, Equality Illinois joined with the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and thousands of LGBT people across the country and delivered an uncompromising message to Congress: Vote for and ENDA that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (H.R. 2015).

Congress heard you, and postponed a vote on a substitute bill that excluded gender identity. But we expect a new vote to be scheduled soon. Very soon. There is no time to waste!

Please, right now, contact your representative by taking part in this Action Alert...

We know why it's so critical that transgender people be included in ENDA. One-third of transgender people report facing employment discrimination at some time in their life. And you can't separate discrimination against transgender people from discrimination against the rest of the LGBT community. For example, may gay and bisexual men get taunted for "acting like a girl." Many lesbians are criticized for "being too butch." We all face anti-transgender bias, even if we don't identify as transgender ourselves.

Congress is listening to us and is making up its mind about which bill to move forward with - a bill that provides protections based on gender identity, or a bill that does not. Your Representative needs to hear from you, and needs to hear our message loud and clear.

There is no room for "compromise" when the subject is equality for all.

With one click, you can take action now.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Do NOT remove gender identity language from ENDA!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to ask you to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 2015, which protects all people. However, I urge you to oppose any motion or amendment that would strip out transgender protections, or any bill without transgender protections (such as H.R. 3685). We are one community and we want to move forward with one bill that protects all of us. Thank you.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
October 12, 2007


Background Information

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR "COMPROMISE" ON ENDA

Workplace non-discrimination legislation must include
sexual orientation AND gender identity

House Democratic leaders have expressed their intent to remove non-discrimination provisions covering transgender persons from the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). 

The professed justification for including some LGBT people and not others is that ENDA may not pass if transgender-inclusive language is part of the bill.  This would mean that, even if the bill were to pass and become law, it would still be legal in the vast majority of states to fire someone from their job simply because of their gender identity and/or expression.

At Equality Illinois, our mission is the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

We need you to let your U.S. Representative and the House leadership know that you support ENDA as it is written NOW - including gender identity.  Our elected leaders need to know that supporters of LGBT equality do NOT support legislation that fails to protect transgender people.

There is no room for "compromise" when the subject is equality for all.

With one click, you can take action now.