PRNewsWire.com
National, state and local groups representing broad spectrum have sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to pass an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that includes gender identity
Washington – Nearly 300 organizations from throughout the nation — and representing the full scope and breadth of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community — have launched a vigorous and vocal united lobbying and advocacy campaign to win passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), H.R. 2015. Called United ENDA, the campaign builds off the past week’s unprecedented efforts by legal groups, political organizations, grassroots activists and many others to maintain protections on the basis of gender identity in ENDA as the measure was originally introduced.
The groups, which include leading legal organizations such as Lambda Legal and faith groups such as the Religious Coalition for Equality, have signed a joint letter to Congress objecting to a diminished bill that abandons transgender people. These organizations, in an ever-expanding list, comprise United ENDA. As a result of letter and direct lobbying by staff from LGBT organizations and constituents, a scheduled House committee hearing on a version of ENDA that strips protections for transgender people was postponed last week.