How will Delaware's Senator Tom Carper vote on S1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act? We don't know, since he hasn't yet indicated his position. Delaware's other Senator, Senator Ted Kaufman, just recently co-sponsored the bill.
In understanding the strategy for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would extend civil rights to LGBT workers, it's important to understand that secrecy is our enemy. The Senate leadership will not bring this vote to the floor unless there are enough Senators in favor to overcome the expected Republican filibuster. That means 60 solid votes. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, though his record suggests that he has been supportive of LGBT civil rights in the past, has kept mum. That's a problem. Please call him and ask him to support S1584.
Contact info and more after the jump.
Senator Carper, a former Governor and Representative of Delaware, has previously co-sponsored bills containing the language of sexual orientation. He co-sponsored ENDA (S1705) in the 108th Congress, when Senator Ted Kennedy put it forward. He also co-sponsored Senator Kennedy's hate crimes bill (S966) in that Congress. He co-sponsored both in the previous Congress as well (S625 and S1284).
Senator Carper has also voted for the hate crimes law, which contains the language of both sexual orientation and gender identity. But, for some reason, unlike many of his colleagues, he has not indicated whether or not he will support S1584, the Senate version of ENDA.
Delaware's only Representative, Republican Michael Castle, is also a co-sponsor of ENDA in the House.
Please call Senator Carper to ask if his office can confirm his support for S1584, and also ask for him to co-sponsor the bill. You may get a staffer who is unaware of the Senator's position on ENDA. Take a moment to explain what it is, and to ask if he or she can get some information on the Senator's position. Tell us what they said.
If you're not sure what to say when you call, click here for a "Step-by-Step Script For Calling Legislators On ENDA."
Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D)
DC Office: 202-224-2441
District Offices:
Wilmington 302-573-6291
Dover 302-674-3308
Georgetown 302-856-7690
Click here for email
This was originally written by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss at Bilerico. It is reposted here with her permission.