Twenty Senate Democrats Still Haven't Co-Sponsored ENDA. That's Embarrassing.

Published October 18, 2009 @ 11:26AM PT

Workplace

Earlier this summer, Senators Jeff Merkley, Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the U.S. Senate, a bill that (if passed) would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It's a bill that LGBT rights activists have pursued for more than a decade, and the general consensus is that the bill stands its best chance of passing during this session of Congress than at any other time in history.

Which is why it's downright surprising -- not to mention a little disappointed -- that 20 Democrats in the U.S. Senate haven't ponied up to support the bill. Among those Democrats include some of the stars of the progressive netroots, including Sen. Claire McCaskill, Sen. Jim Webb, Sen. Kay Hagan, and Sen. Jon Tester. They oughta know better.

Chris Geidner over at LawDork breaks down the 20 U.S. Senators who haven't signed on to support the bill, and notes that it's disappointing more of these folks haven't joined the ENDA club. That includes Senators from states as blue as Wisconsin and Delaware.

It's no secret that LGBT issues make Democrats in some parts of the country squeamish. But come on, there's nothing squeamish about standing up against discrimination in the workplace. And if Senators like Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who come from some of the reddest territory in the country, can support ENDA, then there's no reason Claire McCaskill or Kay Hagan or any of the like can't, either.

Check out the 20 U.S. Senators below who've not come through on this issue yet, and if you haven't already, sign this petition on change.org encouraging the U.S. Senate to pass ENDA legislation this year. Passing ENDA is a priority for the Obama administration. But the U.S. Senate has to come through for the White House first, and it's our job to pressure them to do so.

(The 20 U.S. Senators, and their phone numbers, who have yet to sign on as a co-sponsor of ENDA.)

Baucus, MT – (202) 224-2651

Bayh, IN – (202) 224-5623

Begich, AK – (202) 224-3004

Byrd, WV – (202) 224-3954

Carper, DE – (202) 224-2441

Conrad, ND – (202) 224-2043

Dorgan, ND – (202) 224-2551

Hagan, NC – (202) 224-6432

Johnson, T., SD – (202) 224-5842

Kaufman, DE – (202) 224-5042

Kohl, WI – (202) 224-5653

Lincoln, AR – (202) 224-4843

McCaskill, MO – (202) 224-6154

Nelson, Bill, FL – (202) 224-5274

Nelson, Ben, NE – (202) 224-6551

Pryor, AR – (202) 224-2353

Rockefeller, WV – (202) 224-6472

Tester, MT – (202) 224-2644

Warner, M., VA – (202) 224-2023

Webb, VA – (202) 224-4024

(Photo courtesy of Alex E. Proimos' photostream on Flickr.)

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Comments (6)

Can't believe this hasn't had more traction. It is embarressing. In a recent poll, most Americans support Obama's support of gay rights - http://www.polladium.com/poll_results.php?poll_id=336&location_id=1

Posted by John D on 10/18/2009 @ 12:54PM PT
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It's disappointing that twenty Democrats in Congress haven't co-sponsered the necessary ENDA bill, including my two Senators in Virginia. The Employment Non Discrimination Act must become law and most hopefully, all the Democrats in the list will co-sponser that very important bill. The workplace must be an environment in which LGBT employees can't be discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation, thus ENDA must become law.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/18/2009 @ 02:17PM PT
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Its pathetic that this bill doesn't have more supporters.

And democrats no less! Republicans I could understand, they hate everyone, but damn.

It just goes to show you that politicians are only interested in their own career. One of the rarest things on earth is a politician who cares because (s)he cares, not because it makes them look better.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/18/2009 @ 04:12PM PT
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It starting to appear that the LGBT community is starting to realize that democrats are as useful for us LGBT in fighting for our rights as inspector gadgets useless gadgets were for fighting crime. Go go gadget Magickarp

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/18/2009 @ 06:58PM PT
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Please note that Sen. Kohl is a co-sponsor. Lincoln has said she is not going to support the bill. You should also include Senator Kirk from Massachusetts. A number of Senator's offices have confirmed that their Members will be supporting the bill, including Baucus, Begich, Dorgan, McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Tester, Warner and Webb. It would be great if they would co-sponsor. I also think there's a few Republicans who we might get on board, including LeMieux, Lugar Murkowski, and Voinovich. http://bit.ly/14TDll

Posted by Jillian Weiss on 10/19/2009 @ 02:57AM PT
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Well...We just gotta keep pushing them and reminding them that we aint going anywhere.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 09:52AM 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.