ENDA ON CONGRESS RADAR

(click on image for larger view)

Our local Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter of

Pride At Work has been leading the fight

to end workplace discrimination in both the

public and private sectors.

(photo taken at 2009 Labor Day Parade

by Ove Overmyer)

Rochester, N.Y.--  The House returns from its spring recess on April 12, and we're hearing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) could be up for a committee vote soon after. We're closer than ever to getting workplace discrimination protections for all LGBT people passed in the House.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity for civilian nonreligious employers with over 15 employees.

ENDA has been introduced in every Congress, except the 109th, since 1994, albeit without gender identity protections, but gained its best chance at passing after the Democratic Party broke twelve years of Republican Congressional rule in the 2006 midterm elections. However, some sponsors believed that even with a Democratic majority, ENDA did not have enough votes to pass the House of Representatives with transgender inclusion, and dropped it from the bill, which passed and subsequently died in the Senate. Labor and LGBT advocacy organizations were divided over support of the changed bill.

In 2009, on the heels of the 2008 elections that strengthened the Democratic majority, and after the debacle of the 2007 ENDA divisions, only a transgender-inclusive ENDA has been introduced by House representative Barney Frank. President Barack Obama supports the bill's passage unlike his Republican predecessor, who threatened to veto the measure.

Text "ENDA" to 69866 to be connected to your representative. Your calls will make a huge difference. Even if you think your representative is supportive or if you've called before, please call now.