Trans-less ENDA Bill To Move Forward

Despite a massive national outcry among gay activists and the work of an unprecedented coalition of progressive organizations, congressional leaders will move ahead with the version of ENDA that does not include transgender protections. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she has committed to presenting a second transgender-inclusive bill "the minute" enough votes have been secured to pass it. (In other words, don't hold your breath.)

The decision has expectedly split the HRC from the progressive coalition.

Matt Foreman, executive director the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said, "It simply makes no sense. If the goal is moving an ENDA that protects all of us, passing a flawed, gay-only bill utterly undermines that objective. The notion that the House of Representatives will be willing to revisit a different ENDA before the end of the calendar year — when it has been unwilling or unable to take up a single pro-gay matter over the last 34 years — is more than implausible. We will do everything possible to convince members to end this misguided course of action."

However, Human Rights Campaign head Joe Solmonese said that his organization would not call on the members of Congress to vote against the bill, saying that such a call would jeopardize the HRC's relationship with representatives that have supported gay rights in the past. Solmonese: "I think we are apart from other groups in the movement because of the unique nature of our work. We have tried to be clear that we do not support efforts that are not inclusive, but we are respectful to the … complex strategy toward passing an inclusive bill."

Dubya is expected to veto the bill.

(via - Washington Blade.)