Trans-Inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in Senate

categories: Employment NonDiscrimination Act, LGBT Rights and Politics, Transgender Issues

Published August 05, 2009 @ 10:19AM PT

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley gets the honor of introducing the first-ever trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate. He did so today, with bipartisan support from Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. The bill, if passed by Congress, would prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Here's what Sen. Merkley had to say in an official press release sent from his office:

There is no place in the workplace for employment discrimination. No worker in America should be fired or denied a job based on who they are. Discrimination is wrong, period. I'm proud to join Senator Kennedy, who is a civil rights legend, and Senators Collins and Snowe, both champions for equality, in taking this next step in our ongoing effort to create a more perfect union and guarantee every American, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, the right to earn a living.

This Senate version joins a version already introduced in the U.S. House in June 2009. It's introduction today in the U.S. Senate was roundly celebrated by LGBT orgs. Rea Carey of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said, "People recognize that our nation as a whole benefits when everyone is allowed to contribute their talents and skills, free from discrimination, which is all ENDA seeks to do."

President Obama pledged his support for ENDA while on the campaign trail last year. Hearings on the bill won't happen for another few months, but this is yet another welcome sign that legislative issues pertaining to LGBT rights are finding traction throughout both chambers of Congress.

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FINALLY!!!!! As a huge advocate of transgender equality, I am so thrilled to see this!

Posted by Amanda Kloer on 08/05/2009 @ 11:13AM PT
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Hopefully they don't cave this time.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/05/2009 @ 01:13PM PT
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I hope and pray for its passage...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/05/2009 @ 03:26PM PT
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Thomas dont just hope and pray get out there and write letters and make calss to the senate, like many of us are doing, to make sure this passes.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/06/2009 @ 10:46AM PT
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The bill which would end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity must pass in Congress because discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is unjustified. President Obama is obligated to the sign the bill. It's great the two of Maine's Senators and John Kerry support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because if the bill becomes law, every workplace will be more tolerant.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/05/2009 @ 05:36PM PT
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According to Senator Merkley there are currently 38 original co-sponsors of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

They are as follows:

Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin, Senators Daniel Akaka (HI), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Barbara Boxer (CA), Sherrod Brown (OH), Roland Burris (IL), Maria Cantwell (WA), Ben Cardin (MD), Bob Casey (PA), Chris Dodd (CT), Russ Feingold (WI), Diane Feinstein (CA), Al Franken (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Tom Harkin (IA), Daniel Inouye (HI), John Kerry (MA), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Patrick Leahy (VT), Carl Levin (MI), Joe Lieberman (CT), Robert Menendez (NJ), Barbara Mikulski (MD), Patty Murray (WA), Jack Reed (RI), Bernie Sanders (VT), Chuck Schumer (NY), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Arlen Specter (PA), Mark Udall (CO), Tom Udall (NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Ron Wyden (OR).</blockquote>

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/05/2009 @ 09:14PM PT
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The list above does not include the 4 main sponsors of the legislation Kennedy, Snowe, Collins, and Merkley (all which are included in the 38.)

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/05/2009 @ 09:16PM PT
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This weekend I will be putting together a spreadsheet (like I did with the House members regarding the DADT repeal) of Senators to target to ask them to sign on as co-sponsor of this legislation. (Again, it will be based on those who voted in favor of the hate crimes bill v those who have yet to sign on.)

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/05/2009 @ 09:19PM PT
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Okay. I got a little bored tonight and decided to go ahead and make the spreadsheet tonight. The address is: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tyQuCpGo_vvDnfHdnXG1aFA&output=html

I will update it tomorrow (or as soon as a Senate bill number has been assigned) and on a daily basis as new co-sponsors sign on.

Please help me call and ask our Senators to sign on.

I've made it through the DADT spreadsheet twice so far. Which is a much longer list than the ENDA list.

Thanks everyone.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/05/2009 @ 11:58PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.