Add Gender Identity/Expression to Canadian Human Rights Act

The Canadian parliament will deliberate on bill C-389 which would amend the Human Rights Act to include protections based on gender identity/expression. The bill would essentially offer employment and housing protections as well include transgender people in hate crimes protections.

Please contact your member of Parliament and urge them to schedule a vote and pass this historic piece of legislation.

H/T to Dented Blue Mercedes.

Campaign to Win GENDA in New York State!

There is hope that the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) has enough votes to pass in the New York State Senate and Assembly in the upcoming weeks.

The time is now to get active and push for the bill to come up for a vote. Empire State Pride Agenda urges you to...

1. Call Senator Tom Duane, lead sponsor of GENDA, at (518) 455-2451. Ask Senator Duane to bring the bill to the floor for a vote in February.

2. Call your own Senator to tell them that you expect them to bring GENDA (S.2406) to the floor and vote in support of it. You can find your State Senator's Albany phone number here.

Here are some talking points for your calls:

-Due to difficulty with job discrimination, one-fifth of transgender New Yorkers have incomes below $10,000 a year.

-28% of transgender New Yorkers have experienced a serious physical or sexual assault motivated by hate.

GENDA has widespread support, 78% of New York voters, Unions representing 2.1 million working New Yorkers, 30 Fortune 500 companies based in cities like Rochester, Corning, New York City and White Plains, and 547 clergy and lay leaders representing over 20 different denominations.

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.