WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced today that she has secured an agreement from the Democratic leadership to introduce an amendment to H.R. 3685 that would restore gender identity protections to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The amendment would be considered on the House floor next week, after the bill moves through the House Education and Labor Committee this Thursday. After her announcement, the United ENDA coalition released the following statement:
Two weeks ago, our community was told that gender identity would not be included in any version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Congressional Leadership expected our community to acquiesce. However, United ENDA effectively communicated the strong opposition of hundreds of organizations and millions of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to leadership's efforts to advance a stripped down version of the bill.
It is because of our unprecedented efforts that new options, such as the proposed amendment by Congresswoman Baldwin, are able to come before Congress. Members of Congress responded to the successful strategy of our coalition and many expressed their strong desire to vote for an inclusive bill that protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Clearly, our preferred strategy is to pass the original ENDA (H.R. 2015) out of committee. However, if we are faced with a non-inclusive bill following the committee vote, we will work with Congresswoman Baldwin to repair ENDA to include protections on the basis of gender identity. We appreciate that Congressional leaders like Congresswoman Baldwin continue to share our commitment to pass an inclusive bill, and we expect Speaker Pelosi and the House leadership will actively support the Baldwin amendment.
I'm not sure what Congresswoman Baldwin is proposing but it seems to me this played out well for the proponents of non-inclusive ENDA. "Let's deny them. Then stand our ground until it looks hopeless for them. Then give them back a bit so they will shut up." How many times have we seen this act?
As for me, yeah, they wore me down. I sent letter after letter to my local representatives as well as every group I could find that was affected by this and never got back even one reply. And now that they are offering what sounds like a watered down version (I still want to read it). I'm about ready to say, "Go ahead, propose the damn thing!"
The problem is we are seriously out numbered. And we get almost no media attention, unless it's on Jerry Springer. We have to work to correct the horribly twisted stigma thrust upon us and educate the masses. It won't be easy unless we look at it as an every day part of life and we just keep chinking away. Eventually the armor will fail and we'll get to their hearts and souls.
Julie
