LAST CHANCE TO FIX FLAWED ENDA (HR 3685)

URGE CONGRESS TO KILL OR AMEND ENDA (HR 3685) TO RESTORE GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS: VOTE YES ON BALDWIN AMENDMENT

Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a version of ENDA that does NOT ban discrimination based on gender identity (HR 3685). Not a single LGBT organization supports this bill and its passage through committee was huge disappointment for the lgbt community. However, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will offer an amendment to fix this flawed legislation by adding gender identity back into the bill.

THIS IS CONGRESS’ LAST CHANCE TO FIX -- OR KILL -- THIS BAD LEGISLATION BEFORE IT PASSES THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Your voice is urgently needed! Please call, fax and email your representative in the House of Representatives TODAY -- even if you have already done so on ENDA -- and urge them to support the Baldwin Amendment to H.R. 3685 -- or oppose the bill. This is the last chance before the House votes to restore gender identity protections to ENDA.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Amend or Kill HR 3685 (Vote Yes on Baldwin Amendment)

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to urge you to support the Baldwin amendment to H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which is likely going to be voted on next week on the floor. And, if the amendment fails, I urge you to oppose H.R. 3685.

The Baldwin amendment restores the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to its original language regarding gender identity. The gender identity protections are necessary to protect the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from discrimination.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is one community and the community wants to move forward together with one unified bill.

As you have heard over the past few weeks, the majority of the LGBT community and allies, myself included, opposes moving forward with a sexual orientation-only bill.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
October 19, 2007

Background Information

URGE CONGRESS TO KILL ENDA OR FIX IT BY
VOTING YES ON BALDWIN AMENDMENT TO
RESTORE GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS TO H.R. 3685

THIS IS CONGRESS’ LAST CHANCE TO FIX --OR KILL -- THIS BAD LEGISLATION BEFORE IT GOES TO THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A VOTE.

Over the past three weeks, the collective power of the lgbt and allied grassroots has been felt in unprecedented ways on Capitol Hill. We have been urging members of Congress to take up the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (H.R. 2015), and drop consideration of the sexual orientation-only ENDA (H.R. 3685).

Although we have not yet gotten what we are asking for—an up-or-down vote on the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015), Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is now planning to offer a gender identity amendment on the floor of the House when the bill (H.R. 3685) reaches the floor next week. This isn’t normally allowed to happen – the Democratic majority rarely allows members the chance to amend a bill on the floor.

We did not ask for or want this amendment strategy; rather, this amendment is House leadership’s last attempt to fix the damage that they have done to ENDA over the last few weeks. The only reason this amendment is even an option is because of the grassroots pressure of the last few weeks.

Bottom Line: Next week, likely Tuesday, the House will be voting on the Baldwin Amendment to add gender identity back into ENDA.

It is critical that you contact your member of Congress in support of the Baldwin Amendment immediately.

There are only a few days to win over the necessary YES votes on the amendment. Your voice is urgently needed! Please call, fax and email your representative in the House of Representatives TODAY -- even if you have already done so regarding ENDA -- because this is our last chance before the House vote to restore gender identity protections to ENDA.