LGBT Groups Send Open Letter to Pelosi Urging Movement on ENDA

Eight LGBT groups sent an open letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling on her to stop the delays, stop the lies and schedule a floor vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):

From San Francisco Pride at Work, One Struggle, One Fight, GetEqual, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Transgender Law Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, El / La, and National Pride at Work

An Open Letter to the House Speaker on ENDA

We are writing to express how extremely troubled we are that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has not yet been scheduled for a vote by the full House of Representatives. We believe a floor vote must be scheduled for ENDA immediately.

It would be devastating for LGBT workers for this Congress to not complete its work on ENDA before the end of this session. ENDA would be historic in the number of LGBT people who would benefit from its passage. During this economic crisis, it is more important than ever to prohibit the often impoverishing effects of workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Most LGBT workers have no protections from workplace discrimination. ENDA would provide legal protection against discrimination nationally. Over and over we have been promised that a vote would be scheduled on ENDA, and these promises have been repeatedly broken. In 29 states, it is still legal to fire someone solely because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. And in 38 states it is legal to fire someone solely for being transgender. The current version of the bill would outlaw discrimination on both sexual orientation and gender identity.

A 2006 study by the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the Transgender Law Center found that 60 percent of transgender people in San Francisco earn less than $15,300 per year, only 25 percent have a full-time job and nearly 9 percent have no source of income.

Only 4 percent reported making more than $61,200, which is about the median income in the Bay Area. More than half of local transgender people live in poverty, and 96 percent earn less than the median income. Forty percent of those surveyed don't even have a bank account. What this study reveals is that even in a city that is considered a haven for the LGBT community, transgender workers face profound employment challenges and discrimination.

A 2007 meta-analysis from the Williams Institute of 50 studies of workplace discrimination against LGBT people found consistent evidence of bias in the workplace. The analysis found that up to 68 percent of LGBT people reported experiencing employment discrimination, and up to 17 percent said they had been fired or denied employment.

Public opinion polling shows that Americans are overwhelmingly in favor of making sure LGBT Americans get the same employment opportunities as everyone else. In fact, the latest surveys shows that nearly 90% of Americans support workplace fairness for LGBT workers.

As you know, in a few weeks, Congress will finish it's legislative business for the year so that they can return to their districts to run for re-election. Last month at a LGBT Pride event, Congresswoman Jackie Spier announced to the LGBT community that not only would we not get ENDA before the end of the legislative session, that she did not think we would get it for five years because we won't have enough votes in Congress again to ensure passage. It is ironic that Congress plans on leaving town and going home to campaign for their own jobs while leaving thousands of LGBT workers without protections for the next five years. When 90% of Americans support workplace fairness, it is challenging to believe that anyone fears a backlash from the voters. The time to pass ENDA is now. The American people support it, the politicians promised it. No more broken promises. We demand that a vote be scheduled now.

Sincerely,

SF Pride at Work, One Struggle, One Fight, GetEqual, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Transgender Law Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, El / La and National Pride at Work 

Related articles by Zemanta

• "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on ENDA at Netroots Nation - Transcript" and related posts (lgbtpov.com)
• Nancy Pelosi and the Impatience of ENDA Activists (gayrights.change.org)
• ENDA Protest Shuts Down Las Vegas Blvd. (lafiga.firedoglake.com)
• Wayne Besen: Gay Group Right To Protest Harry Reid (huffingtonpost.com)
• U.S. Catholic Bishops Embrace Workplace Discrimination (gayrights.change.org)
• 'Don't ask, don't tell' before ENDA, Pelosi tells frustrated activists (thehill.com)

Discussion Group, "Uncovering the Gender Transformation Experience", tonight in Roanoke

There will be a discussion group entitled "Uncovering the Gender Transformation Experience" tonight at Metropolitan Community Church of the Blue Ridge, planned and led by Brandi Parker of the MCC Congregation, with assistance from members of the MCC-Blue Ridge Social Justice & Outreach Ministry. Ms. Parker will be sharing her amazing journey through the MTF transition process.

With so much debate in the LGBT community about the inclusion of the transgender and transsexual people in our fight for equality, we owe it to ourselves to become better informed about our trans brothers and sisters. I challenge you to take part in this discussion group tonight. Ask your questions, listen with your heart. Admission and refreshments are free. Donations will be gratefully accepted.

Join us tonight, Friday, June 18, 2010
7:00pm - 8:30pm
MCC of the Blue Ridge
806 Jamison Ave. SE
Roanoke, VA

GLAAD & HRC Demand Apology From Letterman Over Transphobic Joke

David Letterman's pathetic attempt at humor Tuesday night at the expense of Amanda Simpson, a trans woman appointed by President Obama as Technical Adviser at the Commerce Department, has put him in the cross hairs of The Gay and Lesian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Both groups have written letters to the "Late Show" host and to CBS calling on Letterman to apologize.

The joke, posted here yesterday depicts "Late Show" announcer Alan Kalter running screaming from the studio in a fit of trans panic after Dave announced Ms. Simpson's appointment.

HRC wrote, "The decision to ignore the fact that Ms. Simpson is incredibly well-qualified for this vital national security position and focus instead on her gender identity reflects transphobia.”

“You may not be aware that the punch line in your skit has been used as a defense in nearly every hate crime perpetrated against transgender people that has come to trial."

 The letter from GLAAD president Janet Barrios reads, “Amanda Simpson and transgender people want the same things all Americans do: to earn a living and be recognized for their contributions to society. Instead of using humor to raise awareness about the lives of transgender people, the show ridiculed the first transgender presidential appointee and one of the most vulnerable minorities in this country.”

“By promoting unfair and cruel reactions to transgender people, the David Letterman Show is feeding an epidemic of discrimination and violence that currently faces transgender Americans,”

Related articles by Zemanta

• HRC and GLAAD Slam Letterman (slog.thestranger.com)
• Joanne Herman: Amanda Simpson: A Transgender Rocket Scientist Goes to Washington (huffingtonpost.com)
• Gay Group Demands Letterman Apologize for Mocking Transgender Appointee Amanda Simpson (abcnews.go.com)
• Transwoman Amanda Simpson Appointed To Department Of Commerce (lezgetreal.com)
• Amanda Simpson, First Transgender Presidential Appointee, Begins Work at Commerce Department: 'Being The First Sucks' (huffingtonpost.com)

This Queer Little Planet: India's Trans Voters get Separate Gender Status

In a major step forward in recognizing the uniqueness of its transgender community, the Indian government announced Friday that it will now allow them to select O for "other" when identifying their gender on voter registration forms.

India's hidras (sometimes spelled hijiras or hijras), translated as "eunuchs" in English, have a difficult and often contradictory role in society. Rejected by their families, but prized as entertainers at weddings and other celebrations, they often cannot get work in mainstream society and resort to prostitution just to survive.

AFP reports:

The formal recognition, confirmed by the Election Commission, answers a longstanding demand by the eunuch and transgender community, known as hijiras here, who are believed to number up to six million.

"The inclusion of eunuchs and transgenders as 'others' gives us a separate identity which is what we have always wanted," said Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a prominent eunuch activist and founder of campaign group Astitva.

"This is a sign of a true democracy."

Read more here.