ENDA

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a federal bill that would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment decisions should be based upon a person's qualifications and job performance. 

Please help ensure that no member of our community is left behind!

Contact your U.S. representative today to keep the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) transgender inclusive!

Members of Congress have decided to move forward with a version of ENDA that does not include gender identity. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has worked very hard to add transgender protections to this legislation. It is critical that our representatives hear from each of us now urging them to keep both sexual orientation and gender identity in the bill.

Please urge them to support an ENDA that is fully inclusive, and let them know that you don’t want any member of the LGBT community left behind.

Contact your representative today by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and asking to be connected to your representative’s office.

When the office receptionist answers, you can say:

“Please tell the representative that I oppose any version of ENDA that does not include both sexual orientation and gender identity. Studies and surveys consistently show that between one-third and one-half of all LGBT respondents have suffered employment-related discrimination. Transgender people, in particular, desperately need the protections ENDA would provide. Congress should pass the original version of ENDA that includes both gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Rep. Paul Hodes In Washington, DC:              (202) 225-5206 In NH: (603) 223-9814 ..Click here to e-mail Rep.Hodes ..

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter In Washington, DC:                      (202) 225-5456 In NH: (603) 641-9536 Click here to e-mail Rep.Shea-Porter..

Hate Crimes

 ‘Matthew Shepard Act’ Submitted as Amendment to Defense Reauthorization;

WASHINGTON – Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) filed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105) as an amendment for consideration to the Department of Defense Reauthorization currently being debated before the U.S. Senate.  The bill, commonly referred to as the “Hate Crimes Bill”, could receive a Senate vote as early as today.  The virtually identical House version of the bill passed overwhelmingly on May 3rd, 2007 with a bipartisan vote of 237 to 180 – with more than 20 Republicans voting in support of the bill.  

Anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family – whose founder, James Dobson, have mobilized a dangerously misinformed grassroots army. If we don’t call right now, critical votes COULD BE LOST to these scare tactics being employed by the radical right.

CALL BOTH YOUR SENATORS RIGHT NOW: Let them know you support the Matthew Shepard Act

Below is the message we would like you to tell both your Senators--You will almost certainly speak to a member of the Senator's staff, not the Senators

As a constituent I want my senator to know that I strongly support Passage of the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 1105).This bill does NOT threaten free speech or weaken the Constitution. This bill would only apply to violent attacks based on the victim’s gender, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. It would also provide funding to help law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute violent hate crimes. This legislation has been endorsed by over 230 civic, religious, and law enforcement organizations. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my support for the Matthew Shepard Act, S. 1105

The radical right knows the Matthew Shepard Act is a real step toward tolerance in America. They find that so infuriating, they’ll stop at nothing to bring it down – even if it means calling lawmakers to spread anger fueled by lies.

We cannot allow our Senators to be intimidated, misled, or swayed by an extremist minority. Thank you for making your calls, and thank you for being a voice of reason today.

Thank you for calling your US Senators

Background on Senate Hate Crimes Action: 

Today, Wednesday, July 11th, the Matthew Shepard Act was offered by Senators Kennedy (D-MA) and Smith (R-OR) as an amendment to the FY 08 Department of Defense Authorization bill (DoD).  The vote could come as early as this week; however, there is a chance that it will slip until next week.

The Senate last voted on hate crimes legislation in 2004, when a Kennedy-Smith amendment to the FY 05 Department of Defense Authorization bill passed by a broad, bipartisan margin of 65-33.

If the amendment is approved, the hate crimes bill will become part of the DoD authorization bill. At this time, the amendment is expected to pass.

There will be a number of other amendments to the DoD authorization bill that may push consideration of the legislation into next week, when a vote on final passage will occur.

After consideration of all the amendments, and a vote on final passage, the bill will go to a conference committee to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.   The House passed the DoD authorization in May.    

Both the House and Senate will send conferees to the conference committee.

Since Democrats have control over Congress, they will pick the majority of conferees. This makes it unlikely that hate crimes will be stripped from the bill.

The conference report, with the hate crimes language, will then have to be approved by the House and Senate before heading to the president’s desk.

The DoD authorization bill is attracting many amendments dealing with Iraq.  The final version of the bill could contain contentious language relating to the war. In the current political climate, a bill that contains such language may result in a veto by the President.

In the event of a veto, the President will outline what he disagrees with in the bill, then send it back to the Congress.   The House and Senate will have to choose which provisions in the DoD bill are retained, and which will be stripped out. 

Many obstacles remain before this vital legislation becomes law.  The DoD authorization bill is currently the most favorable vehicle we have to move this legislation toward the finish line.