HRC Signs "Stop ENDA" Letter

Via HRC Back Story comes word that HRC has signed the Leadership Conference On Civil Rights' letter (PDF) calling for a trans-inclusive ENDA. HRC joins 16 progressive organizations including the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU.

October 1, 2007

The Honorable George Miller,
Chairman Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Miller:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to express our opposition to the strategy and process by which the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (HR 3685) is to be considered in the House of Representatives. We ask that the markup in the House Education and Labor Committee, scheduled for less than 24 hours from now, be canceled.

For many years, we have worked to develop an employment non-discrimination bill that protects the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Our organizations support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act as introduced (H.R. 2015).

Although we believe that the bill's sponsor, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), and the House Democratic Leadership have a sincere desire to protect the LGBT community from discrimination, we believe the process and strategy that has been adopted is a mistake. That mistake is compounded by moving forward with a markup tomorrow.

Good for HRC. Note that this letter is separate from the one mentioned in an earlier post.

UPDATE: The letter worked. With less than 24 hours before its scheduled mark-up, House Democratic leaders have put off the ENDA hearing. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwain issued this joint statement: "After discussions with congressional leaders and organizations supporting passage of ENDA, we have agreed to schedule mark-up of the bill in the Committee on Education and Labor later this month, followed by a vote in the full House. This schedule will allow proponents of the legislation to continue their discussions with Members in the interest of passing the broadest possible bill."

Go to Gay City News and read Paul Schindler's superb recounting of the events leading to this late decision.