Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination ACT (ENDA) that does NOT ban discrimination based on gender identity (H.R. 3685). Not a single major lgbt organization supports this bill, and its passage through the House Education and Labor Committee today was a huge disappointment for the lgbt community.
However, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is planning to offer an amendment next week to fix this flawed legislation by adding gender identity back into the bill. This is Congress' last chance to try to fix this bad version of ENDA before it is voted on by the House of Representatives, so please contact your Representative TODAY to urge them to support the Baldwin Amendment and oppose a bill that does not include our whole community.
Please use the link at right in this email to email your Representative today AND, if you can, also please call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your Representative based on your zip code. Here is a suggested message for your phone call:
Hello, my name is _____ and I live in your district. I am calling to ask the Representative to support the Baldwin amendment to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2685). The Baldwin amendment adds gender identity protections back into ENDA and it is critically important to me that all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are protected by this legislation. This amendment is the only way to fix a flawed bill, and I only support passage of H.R. 3685 if the amendment passes. Thank you.
Thank you! Together, we can make a difference.
Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your CongresspersonBelow is the sample letter:
Subject: Fix HR 3685 (Vote Yes on Baldwin Amendment)
Dear [decision maker name inserted here],
I am writing to urge you to support the Baldwin amendment to H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which is likely going to be voted on in the coming days. And, if the amendment fails, I urge you to oppose H.R. 3685.
The Baldwin amendment restores the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to its original language regarding gender identity. The gender identity protections are necessary to protect the entire lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from discrimination.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is one community and the community wants to move forward together with one unified bill. Indeed, not a single major state or national LGBT organization supports the bill in its current form.
As you have heard over the past few weeks, the majority of the LGBT community and allies, myself included, opposes moving forward with a sexual orientation-only bill.
Please support the Baldwin amendment.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
What's At Stake:
URGE CONGRESS TO FIX THE FLAWED ENDA BY
VOTING YES ON BALDWIN AMENDMENT TO
RESTORE GENDER IDENTITY PROTECTIONS TO H.R. 3685THIS IS CONGRESS' LAST CHANCE TO FIX --OR KILL -- THIS BAD LEGISLATION BEFORE IT GOES TO THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR A VOTE.Over the past three weeks, the collective power of the lgbt and allied grassroots has been felt in unprecedented ways on Capitol Hill. We have been urging members of Congress to take up the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (H.R. 2015), and drop consideration of the sexual orientation-only ENDA (H.R. 3685).
Although we have not yet gotten what we are asking for—an up-or-down vote on the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015), Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is now planning to offer a gender identity amendment on the floor of the House when the bill (H.R. 3685) reaches the floor next week. This isn't normally allowed to happen – the Democratic majority rarely allows members the chance to amend a bill on the floor.
We did not ask for or want this amendment strategy; rather, this amendment is House leadership's last attempt to fix the damage that they have done to ENDA over the last few weeks. The only reason this amendment is even an option is because of the grassroots pressure of the last few weeks.
Bottom Line: Next week, likely Tuesday, the House will be voting on the Baldwin Amendment to add gender identity back into ENDA.
It is critical that you contact your member of Congress in support of the Baldwin Amendment immediately.
There are only a few days to win over the necessary YES votes on the amendment. Your voice is urgently needed! Please call, fax and email your representative in the House of Representatives TODAY -- even if you have already done so regarding ENDA -- because
this is our last chance before the House vote to restore gender identity protections to ENDA.
Campaign Expiration Date:
October 31, 2007
Talking Points *Voting "Yes" on the Baldwin Amendment is the only way to fix the flawed ENDA Congress will be voting on next week. Since Congress has decided, against the express wishes of the lgbt community, to move forward with a non-inclusive version of ENDA, the Baldwin Amendment is the last opportunity to ensure that ENDA will protect transgender people and the entire lgbt community.
*Without the Baldwin Amendment, HR 3685 will NOT provide sufficient protection against discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and should be opposed. Without the amendment, the bill completely fails to protect transgender people OR lesbians, gay men, bisexual, and straight people who do not conform to gender stereotypes.
*HR 3685 is morally and strategically wrong. Not only is it morally wrong to leave part of the lgbt community out of this bill, but it is also strategically wrong. We have learned from our work in the states that it is far easier to include gender identity in civil rights legislation the first time it is passed than it is to try to go back and add it in later. If not amended, we oppose HR 3685 and urge a "no" vote.
Posted on: October 19, 2007, 08:03:52
Your Elected Officials {HRC Link, Provide others if you have them}
