Message from Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) regarding ENDA

[Jasmine.m]

I just received the following from Senator Feingold, one the Senators who represents Wisconsin. I have yet to hear back from Senator Kohl (D-WI) or Congressmen Ryan (R). It's unlikely Congressmen Ryan will support ENDA as he is quite conservative.

Good to hear!!

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  I appreciate hearing from you, and I am a longtime supporter of the ENDA legislation.

On August 5, 2009, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced ENDA, which I am pleased to cosponsor, in the Senate. On November 5, 2009, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing on the bill.  You can see a video of the hearing and read the testimony of the witnesses on the HELP committee website at: http://help.senate.gov/Hearings/2009_11_05/2009_11_05.html. Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced ENDA in the House of Representatives on June 24, 2009.

ENDA prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  In America, decisions to hire, promote or terminate employees should not be made on the basis of sexual orientation.  Sexual orientation bears no relationship to job performance and should not cost anyone a job or a promotion.

Thank you again for contacting me.  Please do not hesitate to do so in the future about this or any other issue.

[Dawn D.]

ENDA prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.  In America, decisions to hire, promote or terminate employees should not be made on the basis of sexual orientation.  Sexual orientation bears no relationship to job performance and should not cost anyone a job or a promotion.

Interesting that he left out Gender Identity in the last half of that paragraph...............hhhmmmmm. Hope it was just a slip and not a vision of what to expect as an outcome once the Senate takes the issue up. It won't be pretty!


Dawn

[Jasmine.m]

I noticed that myself. However, the preceding sentence does call out gender identity.

Here's the letter I sent them:

April 21, 2010

Dear Representative Ryan,
Dear Senator Feingold,
Dear Senator Kohl,

I am writing to you to urge you to support the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws.

Because transgender people are not currently protected by federal legislation and because of widespread discrimination against the community, transgender people face significant levels of unemployment due to prejudices in hiring and retention of transgender workers. The loss of a job due to discrimination leads to economic hardship and instability.

I believe that we should be evaluated for the work that we do and our ability to do our jobs. Federal anti-discrimination legislation sends an important message to employers that intolerance in the workplace is unacceptable in the United States. I hope that you will join me in supporting ENDA.

Sincerely,
Me

Post Merge: April 28, 2010, 12:10:06 PM
The response from Senator Kohl. Also supports our cause!!

Thank you for contacting me about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced H.R. 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, on June 24, 2009.  This legislation would extend civil rights protections to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Senate companion bill, S. 1584 on August 5, 2009.  S. 1584 was referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Although I am not a member of this committee, I will keep your views in mind should this legislation come before the full Senate.

I believe that fair and equal treatment of all Americans is the cornerstone of our society and our political system.  Despite great progress, the struggle for civil rights and equal treatment under the law continues today for many citizens.  I am committed to ending discrimination in our society.

Again, thank you for contacting me.



                                                                           Sincerely,

                                                                           Herb Kohl
                                                                           United States Senator