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Employment Non-Discrimination Act Now in Congress |
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The Employment Non-Discrimination Act was introduced yesterday in the House, and Jessica Burgan, media associate with the AFL-CIO constituency group Pride At Work, discusses why the act will benefit America’s working families.
In 33 states, it is legal to fire and otherwise discriminate against a worker because of his/her sexual orientation. In 42 states, it is legal to do so because of that worker’s gender identity and/or expression.
It may seem hard to believe that a community in our nation—a community, no doubt, that contributes unreservedly to our labor and economic systems—is lawfully discriminated against in the majority of the United States.
On April 24, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers came one step closer to reversing that archaic standard.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was introduced by Democratic Rep. Barney Frank and four bipartisan lead co-sponsors. Nearly 20 years in the making, ENDA would ban federal employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression.
The union movement was a visible force at the press conference introducing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Rosalyn Pelles, director of the AFL-CIO Department of Civil, Human and Women’s Rights, spoke on behalf of the AFL-CIO at the ENDA press conference yesterday (see video above). She spoke passionately about the need for equal opportunity and treatment on the job for all workers, standing in solidarity with LGBT workers across the nation who currently face the ugly reality of employment prejudice.
Her speech echoed the support of President John Sweeney, who also released a statement endorsing ENDA.
It is just plain wrong for anyone to discriminate against or fire a worker based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and this legislation gives Congress the chance to make such shocking discrimination illegal once and for all.
Frank had it right when he introduced Ros Pelles by acknowledging “the fact that there is no serious effort to achieve social justice in America that could go forward without the support of organized labor.”
Pride At Work, the AFL-CIO constituency group for LGBT workers, encourages you to let your congressional representatives know that you, too, stand in solidarity with all LGBT workers and support the passage of this crucial and landmark legislation for that community. Please visit their Pass ENDA in ’07 Action Center to get involved in the fight against employment discrimination.
4 Comments
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We need this law. As an American white hetrosexual male which makes me a minority in California, I am discriminated against on the job as well as in my daily life by Gays, Blacks and Mexicans.
Unfortunately, too many of my lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters have faced terrible job discrimination over the years.
Many can’t get their foots in the door to interview, let alone get a job.
Unions should stand up for workers regardless of who the workers are- I’m glad to see the AFL-CIO taking a stand on this.
Its the way it should be.
Thank you AFL-CIO for sticking up for all working people.
Job discrimination is simply wrong.
It takes real leadership to stand up to those who think it is OK to discriminate against someone for no other reason than the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Today, I stand proud as a union member who comes from a long line of union organizers.
Thank you
Discrimination in employment for any reason such as race, creed, national origin, sex, sexual preference and I would propose Family status. There is no protection for women or men who have family responsibilities from being refused a job, denied promotion or fired. Believe it or not a woman can be refused a job because she has children. In California we are trying to do something about it with Sb 836 to amend the nations first fair employment and housing law to prohibit employment discrimination based on “family status” we already forbid discrimination for sexual preference. California pioneered Family leave and it is sweeping east with Washington state passage and Oregon on its way. Family no mater what constitutes your family is fundamentally important to protect. While your at it at, the federal family and medical leave act needs to reduce the size of companies covered from 50 to 5 so more employees are protected.Family isn’t it about time. It is not a democratic or republican issue but an issue of fundamental fairness.