The Struggle For A United ENDA- Pride At Work Gender Identity Inclusion Update

[Omaha Steve]

The Struggle For A United ENDA- Pride At Work Gender Identity Inclusion Update

The National Executive Board and staff of Pride At Work wanted to send all of our members and supporters an update on the pursuit of a gender identity inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the United States House of Representatives.

As many of you know, the National Executive Board of Pride At Work, at their meeting at the San Francisco Labor Council two weeks ago, affirmed a policy to oppose any legislation that is not explicitly inclusive of gender identity and expression.

Since then, the National Executive Board of Pride At Work, your staff, and chapter leaders have been putting the heat on our Congressional Representatives to do the right thing—the labor thing—demanding no less than full protection from job discrimination for all in our community.

An injury to one is an injury to all indeed!

In the last two weeks:

· We’ve taken a leadership role in the United ENDA campaign, a coalition of over 300 national, state, and local groups demanding an inclusive bill.

· We’ve given presentations to the group on how they can reach out to their local labor community and get labor’s voice up-and-out on this issue.

· We’ve joined our allies at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center For Transgender Equality and directly lobbied Congressmembers on the Hill about this issue.

· Our chapter structure has activated as well, including the Pride At Work San Francisco Queer Youth Organizing Project taking to the streets and having candlelight vigils at Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s district office.

· Additionally, chapter leaders have solicited the support of labor union officers to successfully encourage key elected officials to speak out in favor of gender identity inclusion.

· Our international unions are speaking out as well, with UNITE-HERE being the latest addition to the list of organizations saying we will not move forward while leaving our transgender brothers and sisters behind.

Last, but not least, YOU have been speaking up at unprecedented levels. Congressional Reps have been emphatic that they are hearing our community’s vocal demands for inclusion in levels usually only produced by the radical right. Your voice is being heard, the conversation is making a difference, and at the same time you may be wondering what else you can do.

Here are some suggestions:

Ask Your International Union, Central Lbor Council, Union Local, or Constituency Group to support the United ENDA campaign.

As an endorser of the campaign, your group is publicly stating that you support a bill that is inclusive of gender identity and will oppose a bill that is not inclusive. You can find more about the campaign here. If you would like to sign onto the campaign then email Pride At Work staff directly as soon as possible and we will get it listed!

Keep Jamming Those Phone Lines

Your voice is being heard, but let’s remember this is a race and not a sprint, and we must keep the pressure on. Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak with your Representative. There are two questions that need to be answered by your Representative:

1) Do you support the united ENDA bill that includes gender identity, House Bill 2015?

2) Will you oppose any motion to recommit? (a procedural tactic used to kill bills).

What you want to hear is YES to both questions. If you don’t hear that urge them to say yes to inclusion and to oppose any motion to kill the bill.

Work The Blogosphere!

Pride At Work has been popping up in the media and also the blogosphere as vocal advocates for inclusion. Most recently we have been featured prominently in the National Journal’s Congress Daily, an influential newspaper for those who work on the hill. You can read the article here.

There are lively debates happening on many blogs and news sites. Do a web search and join in the conversations. Voices of inclusion have a great way of multiplying once one person speaks up—make sure your voice is being heard.

Ask Your Union To Directly Lobby On Inclusion

Many kudos must go out to our legislative staff allies at AFSCME, UFCW, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, and the AFL-CIO who have been meeting with Representatives and providing a united labor front for inclusion. Ask your International Union to do the same.

For the last year, your Pride At Work staff has been deeply committed to a fully inclusive ENDA. Over 29 international unions and union organizations have come out in favor of an inclusive ENDA. In the last two weeks, your staff has literally focused on a united ENDA all the time.

Pride At Work would have it no other way.

Our internal education, advocacy, and commitment to the transgender community and, frankly, to any LGBT person who doesn’t fit into a neat gender box, has been extensive, by no means perfect, but deeply sincere and on-going. It is built on our firm labor values that you don’t throw your friends, co-workers, and family members out the window whether it be on Capitol Hill or at the bargaining table.

This education and advocacy process is not cheap and is quite time-intensive. If you believe in our dedication to full inclusion and your voice is raised with ours, then I ask that you take a moment and consider making a gift to Pride At Work. You can give online and make a one-time gift or give monthly. Know that your money will be used to educate, advocate, and continue the struggle for inclusion until we all can see protection under the law.


Solidarity forever, thank you, and keep it up!

Your Pride At Work National Executive Board And Staff