FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2009
Media Contacts:
Calla Devlin Rongerude
Communications Director
NCLR
15.392.6257 x324
Mobile: 415.205.2420
cdevlin@nclrights.org
Justin Tanis
Communications
NCTE
202.903.0112
Mobile: 505.610.7812
jtanis@nctequality.org
Brad Luna
Communications Director
Human Rights Campaign
202-216-1514
Mobile: 202-812-8140
brad.luna@hrc.org
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
646.358.1463
Mobile: 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org
LGBT AMERICANS OUTRAGED AT DELAY IN BASIC JOB
RIGHTS
In light of continuing delays in the House of Representatives, we
must state clearly and unequivocally: Passing basic job protections
for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people must happen now.
At a time when our government is deeply focused on the critical
issue of employment, it is inexcusable to delay action on the
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Each and every job lost to prejudice
based on sexual orientation and gender identity needlessly
compounds the unemployment challenges facing our nation. We
call on Congress for the immediate passage of ENDA.
For decades now, we have called upon Congress to pass legislation
to address the basic right of LGBT people to work free from
discrimination at our jobs, and now Congress tells us we must wait
another year. In 29 states, it remains legal to fire people based
on sexual orientation and in 38 states, discrimination based on
gender identity remains legal. In failing to take swift action to
pass ENDA, our government allows unfettered bigotry to go
unchecked, leading to the loss of jobs, fear in the workplace,
economic instability, and personal hardship, while allowing
employers to lose competent experienced workers. ENDA is urgently
needed by our communities.
The majority of Americans consistently state their support for
employment protections and voters have affirmed similar state and
local measures. There is absolutely no reason for Congress to
continue to delay this non-controversial bill or drop LGBT issues
to the bottom of their agenda. We will not be denied basic rights
any longer. Nothing is more important than protecting peoples’
jobs so ENDA must pass now. Further delays are absolutely
unacceptable.
Matthew Coles & James Esseks, Co-Directors, American Civil
Liberties Union LGBT Project
Terry Stone, Executive Director, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT
Centers
Lisa Kove, Executive Director, DOD Federal Globe
Toni Broaddus, Executive Director, Equality Federation
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Equality
Council
Lee Swislow, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates &
Defenders
Jarrett Tomás Barrios, President, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation
Caleb Laieski, Director of Legislative Affairs, GLUAD
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign
Rachel T. Niven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality
Earl Fowlkes, President/CEO, International Federation of Black
Prides, Inc.
Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director, Lambda Legal
Christian Berle, Director of the Log Cabin Republicans National
Office
Sharon J. Lettman, Executive Director/CEO, National Black Justice
Coalition
Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian
Rights
Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender
Equality
Rebecca Fox, Executive Director, National Coalition for LGBT
Health
Rea Carey, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Action Fund
Michael Mitchell, Executive Director, National Stonewall
Democrats
Gregory Varnum, Executive Director, National Youth Advocacy
Coalition
Selisse Berry, Founding Executive Director, Out & Equal
Workplace Advocates
Jody Huckaby, Executive Director, Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National
Jo Kenny, Interim Director, Pride at Work AFL-CIO
Masen Davis, Executive Director, Transgender Law Center
Additional organizations may be added.
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