News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Lisbeth on October 25, 2007, 10:03:50 AM Return to Full Version

Title: Symbolism or Substance in ENDA Debate? {Opinion/Editorial by Jody M Huckaby}
Post by: Lisbeth on October 25, 2007, 10:03:50 AM
Wednesday Oct 24, 2007, Edge San Francisco

When the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) received its first-ever vote in the House of Representatives and passed the Education and Labor Committee on Oct. 18, it should have been a historic - and celebratory - moment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. But there was a cloud hanging over the vote, with over 300 LGBT and allied groups in the United ENDA Coalition advocating for the original form of the bill introduced earlier this year- one that finally included a ban on discrimination based on gender identity. The House Democratic leadership's decision to strip those protections from the bill, leaving only sexual orientation covered, has turned what should have been a victory into an unnecessarily divisive, disappointing setback for the LGBT movement.

More... (http://www.edgesanfrancisco.com/index.php?ci=70&ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=features&sc3=&id=5650&PHPSESSID=2633b563376bd88989eab3d3f8b89f99)