FORUMS > All Things Gay Forum Rules

"We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights. It is time now to write the next chapter-and to write it in the books of law." Lyndon B. Johnson
To terminate the employment of an individual based on who they are as a person, and not on performance standards, is inexcuseable and unacceptable. Whether th...e person is male or female, Asian, African, caucasian, disabled, gay or lesbian, bisexual or transgender does not determine their capabilities of work performance or work ethic. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will empower employers to embrace equality and diversity. ENDA ensures that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender workforce will have equal stance and peace of mind with reassurace that performance, not sexual orientation or gender identity, factor in how they contribute to their job or becoming future employees.
Help the fight for equality in the workforce today!
Contact your representatives in Congress!
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 Bill:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-3017

One of the biggest advocates for ENDA:
http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/enda.asp
Get active!

It is easy to email and get involved ..
this link will help you email your reps ... you can even add your own comments
http://eqfed.org/campaign/ENDA_CongressionalCampaign_househearing

It is very easy! but don't stop there!! here are other campaign links
http://eqfed.org/campaign/ENDA_CongressionalCampaign_househearing/alerts

here are some more links:
contacts:
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/08/click_here_to_email_18_crucial_senators_on_enda.php

facebook:
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/06/join_our_inclusive_enda_campaign.php

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11242/inclusive-enda-2009-can-a-viral-facebook-campaign-make-it-happen

Tell your friends, tell your family!

If we don't do something for our rights, who will??

Initial support for ENDA from LGBT-positive groups:
HRC President Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a LGBT-positive group, said:

"The introduction of an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill in the U.S. Senate is an important and historic step in ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. No American, and that includes LGBT Americans, should have to worry about their livelihood being taken away from them simply for being who they are. The overwhelming majority of the American people are in favor of this legislation and now is the time for our community to visit their representatives in Congress to let them know we need this passed into law."

Meghan Stabler, a HRC Business Council member said:

"Today is a historic day; the first time that an Inclusive ENDA (covering Sexual Orientation AND Gender Identity) has been introduced into the Senate chamber. I know that all of us in the Transgender community applaud the Senate sponsors for taking the lead to provide workplace discrimination protections for all. However, this is only the first step and now we must continue our focus on education and telling of our personal stories to every legislator in the hopes of passing this bill to move it to the President?s desk for signature." 5


Initial opposition to ENDA from a conservative Christian group:
Robert Knight, writing for the fundamentalist Christian news source OneNewsNow:

Described the ENDA bill as the "gay quota bill, even though no quota system is covered by the bill

Describes an ideal political system as a theocracy -- one integrating religion and state -- rather than isolating church and state."

Describes feelings of sexual attraction, which normally define the three sexual orientations, as changeable -- like religion which is another protected class.

Described homophobia and transphobia as traditional values.

Described sexual behavior by sexual minorities to be intrinsically sinful.


He wrote:

"ENDA is profoundly dangerous. It turns private sin into a public right and brings the force of government against morality itself. Any such law is a violation of our unalienable rights as proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. To put it more simply, a statute that directly contradicts [the Judeo-Christian] God's moral law is illegitimate. Laws embody and reflect morality, or they are not laws. They are tyranny. That's why so-called same-sex "marriage" laws are absurd and treacherous. Forcing citizens to accept a counterfeit as the real thing is an act of despotism."

"ENDA adds not only 'sexual orientation' but 'gender identity' to federal workplace anti-discrimination law. Thus, it takes an ax to the idea that sexual behavior has a natural normalcy or any relation to morality. It falsely equates a changeable condition (sexual desire) with race and ethnicity. Worse, it turns traditional values into a form of bigotry punishable under the law. ..."

"The Left has long been at war against sexual morals for good reason. People conditioned to think as short-term opportunists instead of as members of the family tree are easy to manipulate. Just give them the false promise of a painless future free from individual responsibility." 6

http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_empl9.htm

It is in committee right now and the chairs of each of those committees has signed on as a sponsor.

If you are going to make a call to your Rep., you should make it about the health care vote tomorrow. ENDA still has some time to go before it is ready for a floor vote.

Tomorrow is here! Anyway It is hard to keep track of all this stuff with so much going on.

I wonder how are complacent and just don't care about this?

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/11/watch-trans-retired-us-army-col-diane-schroer-on-enda.htmlAlthough there were no transgender witnesses at yesterday's ENDA hearings, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) made sure transgender voices were heard. Retired U.S. Army Col. Diane Schroer and Earline Budd spoke at a press conference before the ENDA hearings yesterday. Officer Mike Carney spoke as well.

It makes one wonder how this particular discrimination will be allowed to continue within the US armed forces despite ENDA (which I do predict will pass and become law) - there must be some footnote within it to exclude application to the military.

I just got an email back from my representative regarding ENDA.
Doesn't sound like his is in favor of supporting it.
Then again, I shouldn't be too surprised.. he's Republican.
I still have some people I can contact. I hope they will support it.

Dante_redux saidI just got an email back from my representative regarding ENDA.
Doesn't sound like his is in favor of supporting it.
Then again, I shouldn't be too surprised.. he's Republican.
I still have some people I can contact. I hope they will support it.

Yeah, this is the one downside despite Barney Frank's comment that we should write/call our representatives if we want change. For SOME it does not matter what you say or write because you are a minority constituent that has very little voting power in their area. But I guess it is still worth a try.

ActiveAndFit said

Dante_redux saidI just got an email back from my representative regarding ENDA.
Doesn't sound like his is in favor of supporting it.
Then again, I shouldn't be too surprised.. he's Republican.
I still have some people I can contact. I hope they will support it.

Yeah, this is the one downside despite Barney Frank's comment that we should write/call our representatives if we want change. For SOME it does not matter what you say or write because you are a minority constituent that has very little voting power in their area. But I guess it is still worth a try.

Very true. It never hurts to try. I am thinking of a way to respond back to get more of an answer out of him and possibly see if I can sway him to think. The message he sent me sounded "prepared."

To anyone else reading this, please get involved! Every little bit counts!