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.

CHANGE is here with Obama/Biden '08

The transition team for Barack Obama's presidency is seeking applicants and going beyond the law of the land to truly embrace inclusive employment non-discrimination.

"The Obama-Biden Transition Project does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law."

If you want to check out the site or apply to be a part of change check out...
http://www.change.gov/page/s/application

Lesbian Couple in U.K. Face Discrimination at WorkPlace

"Beth Moules and Sharleen Amos, both 24, both saleswomen, told the hearing they were ridiculed by a senior staff member who branded their sexuality "disgusting". They claimed a colleague told staff the pair had performed a threesome with their sales manager being "the meat sandwich between them". They claimed the firm ignored their complaints of sexual harassment, and they were allegedly told to stop complaining because "lesbians had never and would never suffer in the way that Jews did".

The women, who live together in Swindon, Wilts, are claiming sexual discrimination and unfair dismissal at the tribunal in Bristol. The pair joined Bristol-based Aquatec Rainsoft, which makes water purifications systems, in October 2006.

Aquatec Rainsoft accountant Anne Boyle told the hearing that the company had "done everything it could to protect" the couple." (Telegraph)

I am glad that the company claims to be trying to protect the couple. I would urge the company to fire the senior staff member who made those homophobic comments, and also issue a diversity training program which includes sexual orientation issues for their staff.

Please politely encourage Aquatec to follow the above measures, click here.

Exhibition House
North View, Soundwell, Bristol, BS16 4NT, United Kingdom
+44 117 910 9988

Old Dominion Trucking Line Fires Transgender Woman

According to Lavender Newswire:

"The American Civil Liberties Union filed a sex discrimination lawsuit today against Old Dominion Freight Lines for illegally firing a truck driver for impersonating a female after she informed the company that she was transitioning from male to female. A prior EEOC investigation into the firing sided with the driver, Kaylee Seals, finding there was reasonable cause to believe that Old Dominion discriminated against Seals based on sex and sex stereotyping."

Please contact Old Dominion and urge them to issue an apology and institute fair practices for gender variant workers.

customer.service@odfl.com (General Customer Service)
Brian.Stoddard@odfl.com (Human Resources)

Corporate Office
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
500 Old Dominion Way
Thomasville, NC 27360
Toll-Free: (800) 432 6335
Local: (336) 889-5000
Fax: (336) 822-5229

OH Congressman Jeff Wagner Spews Out Hate

According to Pam's Houseblend:

"Jeff Wagner, a Republican who represents the 81st district in Ohio. Said he believes that "same-sex committed relationships lead to mental and physical illness". When a constituent asked about H.B. 502, the "Equal Housing and Employment Act", that would cover LGBTs, this is what Wagner said via email (spelling and grammar intact):

"This is a dangerous and misguided bill. The bill is not really about people being denied rights to basic needs, but it is about promoting acceptance of an immoral lifestyle. As much as some people would have us to believe otherwise, this country was founded on Christian principles. One of those long honored principles is the tradition of holy matrimony. One man and one woman joined together in a union that goes as far back as Adam and Eve. As our society has gotten further from that standard (not just homosexuality, but easy divorce, cheating on a spouse, etc.) we see a continued collapse of the basic building block of society the family unit. As that traditional family erodes, we see more sexually transmitted diseases, kids without parents, heartbroken people and I believe a host of mental and physical illnesses. . . . rest assured I can not support a bill in any way promotes or encourages the homosexual lifestyle."

Address:
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1374
Fax : (614) 719-6981

Email Address: district81@ohr.state.oh.us