Senate ENDA hearing: Where are the trans witnesses?
Filed by: Bil Browning
November 4, 2009 7:00 PM
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/11/senate_enda_hearing_no_transgender_person_on_panel.phpTomorrow morning the Senate will hear testimony on S. 1584 - the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The legislation would provide employment protections for LGBT people. In a strategic move endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and other prominent leaders and activists, transgender protections were stripped from the legislation to make it more palatable to squeemish Democrats. It didn't make it far in the legislative process since then-President Bush indicated he'd veto it - trans protections or not.
President Obama has indicated that the fully-inclusive legislation is a priority for his administration and that he would sign it into law immediately. So far, our slowdown has been in Congress as the economy and health care took top billing on the national agenda. question-mark3a.jpgENDA, however, is slated to be the next major piece of legislation coming on the heels of the health care debate. The House has held hearings on ENDA already and tomorrow's hearings will be the first in the Senate this session.
