What is happening...

The House Democratic leadership has re-opened a window of opportunity for us to gather support for ENDA H.R. 2015, which would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Our community has spoken with one voice over the last few days to insist that H.R. 2015 remain on the table," said Mara Keisling, Executive Director of NCTE.  "That strong voice has worked wonders on Capitol Hill.  Let's keep up the momentum and let our representatives know that we want H.R. 2015 passed."

The LGBT community is insisting in a clear voice that ENDA remain a transgender inclusive bill. Leaders and grassroots activists from across the country are connecting daily to strategize, to organize, and above all, to insist that we remain a united, strong community. Our organizations in Washington are working literally around the clock on this issue. And it's working-
Congress is hearing us that we will not be divided on this vital civil rights issue.

Who is working on this...

Less than 24 hours after the House Leadership announced they would postpone a committee mark-up of a sexual orientation-only nondiscrimination bill due to the tremendous outpouring of community resistance to stripping transgender people from the bill, the organizations that signed a joint letter to the Hill formed a united campaign called "United ENDA" to push for passage of a transgender-inclusive ENDA and oppose any legislation that leaves transgender people behind.  You can view the information at www.UnitedENDA.org.

The organizations, including the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Equality Federation, the National Association of LGBT Community Centers, the National Black Justice Coalition, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Pride at Work, National Stonewall Democrats, and many, many others, will meet daily to keep up the pressure on Congress that made such an impact over the weekend.

This campaign will allow organizations to better coordinate lobbying strategies, grassroots mobilization efforts, online activism, media, and legal strategies.  The 150+ (and growing) organizations that share this position will continue to do their own lobbying, release their own statements, and mobilize their own members; the unified campaign will make sure that every organization has the latest information from the Hill, the latest strategic plans, and the most up to date reports from the grassroots.

 

What you can do...

Let us take advantage of this amazing opportunity to win civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.  There are a number of things you can do right now. We need every person to take action. Your voice could be the one that makes the difference in getting a vote we need on Capitol Hill.

1. Please take action right now and contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Tell them you want H.R. 2015, the bill that will provide employment protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity. To find your Representative's phone number, go to http://www.house.gov  or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative's office. You can also contact your state LGBT organization to find out more about their work with your Representative.
2. Find out if your Representative is having a Town Hall meeting or other gathering in your District this weekend (check their web pages or call their offices). If so, attend and let your Representatives know that we need a transgender inclusive ENDA to pass. They need to hear from their constituents right now.
3. Send any responses that you receive from your Representative to ENDA@nctequality.org . We need to know what members of Congress are telling their constituents. This can make a huge difference in our conversations with Congressional leaders.
4. Ask organizations that you are a part of to join with us on United ENDA. They can sign the statement in support of a transgender inclusive ENDA by sending an email to Lisa Mottet of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force at lmottet@thetaskforce.org. Thank your organizations, unions, and employers if they have already signed on to the project; let them know that their stance is appreciated and the right thing to do.
5. Blog, write to the editor, or speak out about why this is important and what people can do about it. Forward this email or emails from other organizations you are a part of to folks you know and let them know why you need their support right now.
6. Be proud of what we've accomplished and know that you are a part of the movement to bring civil rights to all.

In the last five days we can be proud of the work we have done, but we must keep it up.  Members of Congress need to hear your voice, loud and clear.  Tell them H.R. 2015 as written is the bill that the LGBT community needs, wants, and insists on. 

The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. The National Center for Transgender Equality is a 501(c)3 organization.  For more information, please visit www.nctequality.org.

 

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