THE TIME TO PASS ENDA IS NOW

Throughout our long labor rights history, Americans have fought to break down the barriers that deny opportunity and equality to our fellow citizens, and to make the promise of America a reality for all. Through civil rights legislation and constitutional amendments, we have worked to ensure that equal justice under law would be a standard for all who work and live in the United States. The passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will write a new and important chapter in this proud story.

Discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, religion, disability or sexual orientation has no place in the United States. Yet, discrimination exists. Today, throughout our country, millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans face discrimination without the protections of federal law. In more than 30 states, competent and qualified workers can be fired simply because of their sexual orientation. That is wrong. That is un-American. An employee’s performance at work should determine employment – not characteristics which have no bearing on one’s ability to do the job.

Congress now has an opportunity to right this wrong. Immediate enactment of ENDA will send a clear message that the American Dream belongs to all of us. It will provide needed protection for millions of our fellow citizens who face unjustified discrimination on the job. It is time to pass ENDA. It is the right thing to do.

A broad coalition, including AFSCME, CSEA, Pride At Work, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, PFLAG National, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Black Justice Coalition, National Stonewall Democrats, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights are all urging their members to tell their Congressional representatives to pass ENDA.

Help us ensure that this discrimination becomes a thing of the past. Help us pass ENDA once and for all. Please make a short phone call now to your legislators to keep the pressure on. They need to hear loud and clear from people who support equality. Even if you’ve called before, and even if you think your representative is supportive of ENDA, it’s critical that they hear from you again today.

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to speak to your representative. (If you’re not sure who your representative is, simply give the operator your zip code and they will connect you.)