Employment Non-Discrimination Act Now in Congress

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. 

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