ENDA support...but can you please drop the transgenders?: Florida's Lincoln Diaz-Balart
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/08/ill_support_enda_if_you_drop_the_transgenders_flor.phpDr. Jillian T. Weiss
August 18, 2009 10:30 AM
The Employment Non-Discrimination, one of the only LGBT protections likely to be put in place this legislative session, is haunted by a giant shadow of the sordid past.
Lincoln Diaz-BalartThat shadow is the effort by our "leaders" to pass ENDA in 2007 by stripping out gender identity provisions that would protect members of our clan who are not gender-conforming, whether they be transgender persons or gay men or lesbians or even straight people.
Over 400 LGBT organizations rose up to state that they would never support a "workplace fairness" bill that intentionally leaves out part of our community, and some progressives in Congress voted against the anti-trans bill.
It's starting again. In Miami, of all places, by one of our would-be allies. In all fairness, the message came through an aide, and he represents a "difficult" area, so it likely reflects a lack of awareness than any active hostility.
Still, though...Now is the time to nip this in the bud.
