Inclusive ENDA Introduced in the Senate

This is from NTCE...

A Step Closer to Employment Equality for All Americans

August 5, 2009
Washington, DC, August 5, 2009- A fully inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced today in the Senate with bipartisan support. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), joined by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), introduced the bill, which would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Our goal with this legislation is clear and simple," stated Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "Hardworking transgender people deserve the right to go to work without the fear of being arbitrarily fired. We want to apply for a job and be confident that we'll be evaluated based on our qualifications. Our work should be judged on our skills and our expertise, the same as everyone else. ENDA is simply about basic equality in the workplace and freedom from discrimination."

A House version of the bill was introduced by Rep. Barney Frank on June 24 and now has 152 co-sponsors. It is currently being considered in committee. President Obama has already declared his support for ENDA.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
This week, please take action by contacting your Senators to ask them to co-sponsor this vital legislation. There are a number of ways you can do this:


* Call your Senators. You can find the phone numbers on the Senate website;just select your state in the upper right hand corner. That will give you contact information for both of your Senators.
* Write an e-mail online with our ENDA action; it's quick and easy and sends e-mails directly to your members of Congress.
* Go to a town hall or other public meeting in your state while your members of Congress are home in August. You may still be able to get an appointment to meet with your members of Congress or a staff member. See our ENDA Toolkit for more information about how to do this.

It is critical that members of Congress hear directly from transgender people and our families, friends and allies about the need to pass this bill. Please speak out today!

Want to learn more?

Visit our ENDA webpage for more information.