Powered by image
Inclusive ENDA Introduced! Ask your Representative to Become a Cosponsor!

This week, Representative Barney Frank, joined by Reps. Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis, introduced an inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)—which would extend the existing federal law prohibiting employment discrimination to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

The bill was introduced by a group of bi-partisan Representatives and it is important that you contact your legislator to become a cosponsor as well. Becoming a cosponsor shows that the Representative will stand firm with our community and helps build momentum for the bill’s passage.

Email your Representative below and ask them to be a co-sponsor of ENDA!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please Co-Sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Representative Barney Frank, joined by a group of bi-partisan Representatives, recently introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA would extend the existing federal law prohibiting employment discrimination to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Please support an inclusive ENDA - the bill that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans from losing their jobs just because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

Federal law already bans job discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and other categories that are essential to a person's being. But employers in many states can still fire people because they are LGB or transgender.

LGBT Americans deserve and need the ability to work--just like every American. Please help by cosponsoring and supporting an inclusive ENDA in 2009.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 22, 2009


Background Information

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Talking Points

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) prohibits employment discrimina­tion on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. ENDA creates express protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people similar to those available under existing federal discrimination laws for other protected classes of workers.

 

Already nearly 40% of the US population (12 states and over 100 localities) protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers from discrimination.

Twelve states and over 100 localities protect individuals from workplace discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. However, coverage is incon­sistent across the country, including from state to state, and local ordinances are often under-enforced. A federal law is needed to expressly and uniformly prohibit workplace discrimination throughout the United States.

 

Nondiscrimination is a best practice in Corporate America.

Corporate America generally opposes discrimination and has enacted policies protecting its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. More than 150 Fortune 500 companies have policies that include gender identity/expression. Companies have adopted these workplace non-discrimination policies because they are motivated by the bottom line: hiring and retaining the best, most experienced person for the job makes good business sense; employees who do not have to fear discrimination are loyal and productive; and searching for and training replacement employees is expensive.

 

Which employers are included?

ENDA applies to the same entities covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These include private employers with 15 or more employees, labor unions, employment agencies, and federal, state and local governments, The legislation exempts the Armed Forces, religious institutions, and employers with less than 15 employees.

 

Gender identity is essential to the bill.

It is critical that the bill cover both sexual orientation and gender identity.  The express inclusion of gender identity is vital because transgender people face pervasive workplace discrimination, and existing federal law has proven inadequate to protect these workers. On this, the LGBT community is speaking in one voice: we must move forward with employment protections that will protect all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

 

Calls, emails and especially visits about ENDA are needed! For more information on how to do these, visit: www.unitedenda.org.