I just woke up. I'm having my first cup of coffee and browsing the news. For some time I've been glad to see ENDA moving forward. As a transsexual woman, it's been hugely important to me that my country might soon ban anti gay and anti trans discrimination in employment.
Like many trans women, I have experienced employment discrimination and seen the toll on others, and I know that laws and rules, in this case, do make a big difference in how people handle decisions about trans employees. Nothing, of course, makes someone continue to employ someone they don't want on staff; but a law -- or a rule -- means you have a chance, at least, to show your chops, to demonstrate both competence and humanity. Even the people opposed can come around when they understand that trans folks are just people, and often damn good at their jobs and eager for a break.
Today Barney Frank (and not, apparently, Tammy Baldwin -- see update) made sure that if ENDA passes as described, we won't get that chance. Frank's quote comparing ENDA to recent hate crimes reporting legislation (which did include trans folks), as reported today on Alternet, was telling:
"Simply protecting, or trying to protect someone against assault is very different from saying you have to hire the person and let them live here and sleep here, etc., etc." Frank said. "Obviously, we didn’t think that was persuasive."
The full alternet article (from the Chronicle) is here.
For many gays and lesbians, this will seem nonsensical -- why include trans folks? The truth is, if you don't include us, we may never have these protections. We've marched along with you and fought for equal rights together for quite awhile now. If you've wanted a bill that works for all of us-- this is the moment of choice. We need your help. Can we wait another year or two, and pass an ENDA that protects us all?
Update, though the diary has scrolled on: As of this writing, Baldwin apparently has withheld her name, though she has not spoken on the issue. This is a good article:
Gay City News Article