Emergency Rally Thursday on Capitol Hill to Save ENDA

Activists from GetEQUAL will hold an emergency Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) protest on Capitol Hill tomorrow at noon. The action is part of a series of events during the week to pressure the congress to vote on this important piece of legislation which will bar discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

“We’ve heard all we can stand to hear from leaders in Congress, they promised a vote this calendar year and we expect them to honor their word,” said Robin McGhee, co-founder of GetEQUAL. “As the window continues to slowly close on available legislative calendar dates to vote on ENDA in the House and in the Senate, we will continue to hold Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid accountable for the direct promise they made to the LGBT community. Our community has done the work to lobby and educate members of Congress on the need for a fully inclusive ENDA and now is the time to stop the talking and start the voting” (Echelon).

WHAT: Emergency Capitol Hill Protest to Save the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
WHEN: Thursday, May 20th, 2010
WHERE: Corner of Independence Ave SE & 1st ST SE (by the Library of Congress)
TIME: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm (ET)

Activists Plan Demo at Speaker Pelosi's Office Tomorrow Over ENDA

Activists from GetEQUAL will be protesting in front of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office in San Francisco tomorrow afternoon. They are demanding that the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) be moved for a vote in congress immediately. The Democratic party has continually promised to hold a vote on this legislation but keeps postponing it.

Tuesday, May 18 from 430-630pm
7th & Mission St.

If you can't make it to San Francisco, please, contact Speaker Pelosi's office in both SF - 415.556.4862, and, DC - (202) 225-0100.

Tell Speaker Pelosi It's Time for ENDA

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) as soon as she knew they had enough votes secured to pass the legislation. If passed this historic bill would prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The three openly gay congress members Barney Frank, Jared Polis, and Tammy Baldwin believe the votes are there and have been pressuring their colleagues to bring the bill to the floor.

Speaker Pelosi did an amazing job garnering the votes and pushing the controversial health care reform bill through and promised that after that was settled she would take up ENDA.

Now is the time to pass this legislation and you could voice your opinion to Pelosi via this e-action form.

Rallies to Demand Justice for GetEQUAL Protesters

Grassroots organized rallies have sprung up around the country to demand an end to government sanctioned discrimination and to support protesters who were arrested yesterday at various direct-action events protesting Don't Ask Don't Tell and demanding an Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Multiple actions by the newly formed group GetEQUAL took place yesterday, first starting with the anti-gay Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Following a demonstration by the Human Rights Campaign, Lieutenant Dan Choi and Cpt. Jim Pietrangelo marched to the White House and chained themselves to the White House gate in a non-violent act of civil disobedience against the policy. The two were arrested without bail and will appear in a D.C. court today. Co-director of GetEQUAL Robin McGehee was arrested for aiding Choi in shackling himself to the fence but was later released.

Later in the day activists on both coasts took action to demand a trans inclusive ENDA be brought to the floor of congress. The protesters arranged a sit-in in at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco and Washington D.C. offices. The activists were arrested but have all been released. A blogswarm was also arranged whereby thousands participated in calling in to Pelosi's office demanding ENDA legislation.

Scheduled solidarity rallies:

Florida

Orlando
Friday, March 19
12:00pm
Senator Bill Nelson's Office
Orlando Landmark Two
225 East Robinson Street

New York

New York City
Friday, March 19
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Time Square Military Recruitment Office

California

Orange County
Friday, March 19
6:00-7:30pm
UC Irvine Footbridge at Campus between West and East Petalson.

Please comment if you know of additional scheduled protests.

Blogswarm to Demand Speaker Pelosi Hold Vote on ENDA

Today thousands of people will put pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to a vote. Dr. Jillian T. Weiss of Bilerico put out the call to action and many LGBT and progressive blogs are participating in this blogswarm.

ENDA (HR 3017) will prohibit job discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The majority of the house and senate support this bill and Obama favors this civil rights legislation being passed. With a democratic majority now is the time to get ENDA on the floor for an up or down vote.

Please call Speaker Nancy Pelosi at 202-225-4965. Ask that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, HR 3017, move to a vote.

Tell the Senate to Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

The Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) is having a hearing in the House of Representatives now, click here for a live feed of the coverage. ENDA would ensure that employees are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression. The bill would make sure that an employee cannot be fired, refused hiring, or promotion simply based on these attributes.

It is still legal in 29 states to fire someone for their sexual orientation, and in 38 states for gender identity.

The senate has for the first time introduced a fully inclusive ENDA. Please urge your senators to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation.

Pass ENDA Now!

Today, the Senate has introduced a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would protect workers against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. This federal bill would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees simply based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The house currently has a similar bill working its way through the chamber.

Send a clear message to your lawmakers to support passage of an inclusive ENDA.

The Inclusive ENDA Campaign

The inclusive ENDA campaign is setting up meetings with your Senators and Representatives in August to talk about support for an inclusive Employment Non Discrimination Act that protects sexual orientation, gender identity/expression. Sign up to meet with your senators and legislators on this important piece of legislation, or email ENDAcampaign@gmail.com

There are 20 fair-minded House Republicans who appear to be open towards ENDA, but have not yet gone public with their support. There are also 45 demcocrats who have yet to go public with their position.

Please email and ask them to support HR 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Bilerico has a list of the representatives who are open to possibly voting for ENDA, please contact them.