Out@Work has called off the picket against HRC
HRC has issued a statement affirming their support for transgender inclusion in ENDA (but not pledging to work against the new trans-excluding bill):
Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Vote to Reaffirm 2004 Policy on ENDA
Supports ENDA Legislation Protecting the Entire GLBT Community
WASHINGTON - Last night, the Human Rights Campaign’s Board of Directors voted to reaffirm the 2004 policy supporting a fully inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Therefore, HRC will not support the newly introduced sexual orientation only bill. The board’s position articulates a process for continued dialogue with House leaders about strategies that have been put forth to, in the end, achieve passage of a fully inclusive ENDA.
“We are now faced with definitive Congressional action to move forward a version of the bill stripping gender identity. Though we support a fully inclusive ENDA, we acknowledge the legislative strategy put forth by Congressman Frank and the Democratic leadership to obtain a clear path towards an inclusive bill in the future,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We look forward to working with them to accomplish the goal all of us share - ending workplace discrimination against the entire GLBT community.”
“Since 2004, HRC has had in place a policy that supports only a fully inclusive version of ENDA and the Board of Directors voted to reaffirm that position,” Solmonese continued. “Therefore, we are not able to support, nor will we encourage Members of Congress to vote against, the newly introduced sexual orientation only bill. And will continue working with our allies in Congress to support a comprehensive, legislative strategy to achieve passage of a fully inclusive ENDA as quickly as possible.”
The Human Rights Campaign has been and continues to be on the front lines actively and exhaustively advocating for an inclusive piece of legislation that protects all members of our community. HRC has led the charge on Capitol Hill for an inclusive bill and has focused grassroots organizing in 40 congressional districts across the country targeting moderate Members of Congress to educate them on the need for a bill protecting the entire GLBT community.
“For more than a decade HRC has been aggressively working to secure employment protections for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Even in the dark days of anti-gay leadership in Congress, we moved Corporate America forward because we refused to accept that progress wasn’t possible. And today, we again reject the notion that progress isn’t possible by rededicating our efforts to specifically educate members of Congress on the need for gender identity protections in the workplace,” said Solmonese.
“Some may say we should have joined the growing chorus of public dissenters earlier. We believed, and still do, that the correct course of action was to continue dialogue with our allies on the Hill and work to the last minute to effect change,” said Solmonese. “That decision, in addition to yesterday’s letter signed by GLBT and civil rights organizations, paid off when we were able to engage in direct conversations that resulted in a guarantee from House leadership to postpone the mark-up until later this month.”
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Question: “I feel betrayed” - or “HRC threw the transgender community under the bus.” What is your response?
We completely understand and acknowledge that this is a difficult time for many in our community, and we have been deeply troubled by the process that has unfolded as well.
The House Leadership informed HRC and other community leaders late last week that they do not have the votes to move forward with the complete ENDA, and that they are moving forward with a new version that only protects against sexual orientation discrimination. HRC was profoundly disappointed in this decision and exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this course from being taken.
HRC does not support the incomplete version of ENDA that is moving forward in the House, and we will not advocate for it in any way.
We support passage of a complete ENDA that covers the entire GLBT Community.
Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Frank have made clear that they believe the House vote on this bill later this month - which is not expected to be signed into law - will provide a legislative baseline of support for a complete ENDA in the next Congress, and that this is part of their strategy to passing a complete version of the bill with protections based on both sexual orientation and gender identity in one bill on a shorter timeline than not.
Our commitment to passing one bill that protects the entire GLBT community is steadfast and unwavering.
Question: Did HRC strip gender identity from the bill, or advocate for that course in any way?
Absolutely not. The Leadership of the House made this move against HRC’s strong protests, and informed us of their decision late last week. We have been unwavering in our commitment to passing a complete bill throughout the process.
Question: Why has HRC been so quiet the last week?
After HRC was informed of the Leadership’s intention to move forward with an incomplete bill, we wanted to exhaust every possible option to preserve the complete bill - even down to the 11th hour. We believed then - and continue to believe now - that the best way we could advocate for our entire community was to continue having conversations with leaders on the hill. Those conversations would have ended if we had issued ultimatums via our press releases or action alerts. HRC is the GLBT organization in Washington with the most connections and relationships on the Hill, and we worked to use those relationships behind the scenes in every way possible the past week to protect the fully complete ENDA. We will continue to work with leaders on the hill on a strategy to move forward with one complete bill.
PS - Pam's House Blend blog on The Non-Trans Inclusive ENDA Was Worse Than We Knew - A closer look by Lambda Legal reveals: It didn't just exclude transgender - it was substantially rewritten and would reduce protections for gays and lesbians too!
Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors Vote to Reaffirm 2004 Policy on ENDA
Supports ENDA Legislation Protecting the Entire GLBT Community
WASHINGTON - Last night, the Human Rights Campaign’s Board of Directors voted to reaffirm the 2004 policy supporting a fully inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Therefore, HRC will not support the newly introduced sexual orientation only bill. The board’s position articulates a process for continued dialogue with House leaders about strategies that have been put forth to, in the end, achieve passage of a fully inclusive ENDA.
“We are now faced with definitive Congressional action to move forward a version of the bill stripping gender identity. Though we support a fully inclusive ENDA, we acknowledge the legislative strategy put forth by Congressman Frank and the Democratic leadership to obtain a clear path towards an inclusive bill in the future,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “We look forward to working with them to accomplish the goal all of us share - ending workplace discrimination against the entire GLBT community.”
“Since 2004, HRC has had in place a policy that supports only a fully inclusive version of ENDA and the Board of Directors voted to reaffirm that position,” Solmonese continued. “Therefore, we are not able to support, nor will we encourage Members of Congress to vote against, the newly introduced sexual orientation only bill. And will continue working with our allies in Congress to support a comprehensive, legislative strategy to achieve passage of a fully inclusive ENDA as quickly as possible.”
The Human Rights Campaign has been and continues to be on the front lines actively and exhaustively advocating for an inclusive piece of legislation that protects all members of our community. HRC has led the charge on Capitol Hill for an inclusive bill and has focused grassroots organizing in 40 congressional districts across the country targeting moderate Members of Congress to educate them on the need for a bill protecting the entire GLBT community.
“For more than a decade HRC has been aggressively working to secure employment protections for the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Even in the dark days of anti-gay leadership in Congress, we moved Corporate America forward because we refused to accept that progress wasn’t possible. And today, we again reject the notion that progress isn’t possible by rededicating our efforts to specifically educate members of Congress on the need for gender identity protections in the workplace,” said Solmonese.
“Some may say we should have joined the growing chorus of public dissenters earlier. We believed, and still do, that the correct course of action was to continue dialogue with our allies on the Hill and work to the last minute to effect change,” said Solmonese. “That decision, in addition to yesterday’s letter signed by GLBT and civil rights organizations, paid off when we were able to engage in direct conversations that resulted in a guarantee from House leadership to postpone the mark-up until later this month.”
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
Question: “I feel betrayed” - or “HRC threw the transgender community under the bus.” What is your response?
We completely understand and acknowledge that this is a difficult time for many in our community, and we have been deeply troubled by the process that has unfolded as well.
The House Leadership informed HRC and other community leaders late last week that they do not have the votes to move forward with the complete ENDA, and that they are moving forward with a new version that only protects against sexual orientation discrimination. HRC was profoundly disappointed in this decision and exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this course from being taken.
HRC does not support the incomplete version of ENDA that is moving forward in the House, and we will not advocate for it in any way.
We support passage of a complete ENDA that covers the entire GLBT Community.
Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Frank have made clear that they believe the House vote on this bill later this month - which is not expected to be signed into law - will provide a legislative baseline of support for a complete ENDA in the next Congress, and that this is part of their strategy to passing a complete version of the bill with protections based on both sexual orientation and gender identity in one bill on a shorter timeline than not.
Our commitment to passing one bill that protects the entire GLBT community is steadfast and unwavering.
Question: Did HRC strip gender identity from the bill, or advocate for that course in any way?
Absolutely not. The Leadership of the House made this move against HRC’s strong protests, and informed us of their decision late last week. We have been unwavering in our commitment to passing a complete bill throughout the process.
Question: Why has HRC been so quiet the last week?
After HRC was informed of the Leadership’s intention to move forward with an incomplete bill, we wanted to exhaust every possible option to preserve the complete bill - even down to the 11th hour. We believed then - and continue to believe now - that the best way we could advocate for our entire community was to continue having conversations with leaders on the hill. Those conversations would have ended if we had issued ultimatums via our press releases or action alerts. HRC is the GLBT organization in Washington with the most connections and relationships on the Hill, and we worked to use those relationships behind the scenes in every way possible the past week to protect the fully complete ENDA. We will continue to work with leaders on the hill on a strategy to move forward with one complete bill.
PS - Pam's House Blend blog on The Non-Trans Inclusive ENDA Was Worse Than We Knew - A closer look by Lambda Legal reveals: It didn't just exclude transgender - it was substantially rewritten and would reduce protections for gays and lesbians too!