". . . lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are first-class citizens."For background, read Obama's EEOC Commissioner says Homosexual Sex is Morally Good & Wonderful and also read Congressional Definition of the 'Radical Homosexual Agenda' and read about the progression of ENDA (federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act)
-- Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Committee Chairman
UPDATE 11/9/13: Senate passes ENDA, homosexualists look to Obama
UPDATE 5/30/14: President Obama proclaims Hell-bent goal to enact ENDA (see proclamation excerpts below)
UPDATE 7/10/14: Obama Wedged by Religious Homosexualists on ENDA
-- From "Man tells senators transgendered people 'lose their careers'" by Jamie Goldberg, Los Angeles Times 6/12/12
Following a letter from Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions reopened discussion on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit nonreligious employers with at least 15 employees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
While committee chairman Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) expressed a commitment to seeing [Senate Bill 811] move quickly through committee, he could not give any time frame. No Republicans attended what was supposed to be a full committee hearing.
Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and it is illegal in 16 states and the District of Columbia for employers to discriminate on the basis of gender identity.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Transgender Breakthrough" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 4/23/12
An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.
The opinion came in a decision delivered on Monday, April 23, to lawyers for Mia Macy, a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the agency learned of her transition. It also comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.
The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country. It also will be binding on all federal agencies and departments.
. . . after today's ruling transgender people who feel they have faced employment discrimination can go into any of those 53 offices and the EEOC will consider their claims. What's more, the EEOC could take action itself to sue the employer for discrimination.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "DOJ Accepts EEOC Ruling That Trans Bias Is Covered By Title VII, ATF Begins Investigation" by Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly 5/21/12
The ATF Office of Equal Opportunity sent a letter to Macy dated May 18, a copy of which was received today by TLC and reviewed by Metro Weekly, stating that it was accepting for investigation Macy's claims of discrimination "based on gender (female), gender identity, gender stereotype, and or transgender status." Initially, ATF, which is within the Department of Justice, had stated that Macy's gender identity and "transgender status" claims were not able to be brought under Title VII, which led Macy to appeal her complaint to the EEOC, which found that her claims could be brought under Title VII.
Although the ruling from the EEOC is not the same as a definitive Supreme Court ruling on the question of whether transgender people are protected under Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination, the decision has substantial impact because it is binding on the EEOC, all its field offices and all federal department and agencies. The EEOC's interpretation of Title VII and other civil rights laws are given significant deference by federal courts.
. . . "There's still a lot more steps to go. We still need [the Employment Non-Discrimination Act]. We still need an executive order [to ban federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity]. We still need a hell of a lot of training."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Federal ban on job bias still eludes gay rights groups" by Curtis Tate, McClatchy Newspapers 6/11/12
Gay rights activists have made significant strides in recent years on marriage and military service, but one long-standing policy goal remains elusive: a federal law to ban discrimination against gay workers.
Gays now can serve openly in the military. Gay couples now have some form of legal recognition in 19 states and the District of Columbia. But in 29 states, gay workers can still be fired or denied promotions simply because they're gay.
To be sure, 21 states ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and all but five of those prohibit bias based on gender identity. Hundreds of cities and counties across the country have enacted nondiscrimination laws. Federal government employees are protected by a policy that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies have their own nondiscrimination policies.
But some legal experts say workers and their employers need the kind of legal clarity that only a federal law can provide. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Senate Dems Take Time to Consider 'Gender Identity' in the Workplace" by Susan Jones, CNSNews.com 6/13/12
According to the Liberty Counsel, if a supervisor told a male employee he could not use the women's restroom, the employer would be in violation of ENDA.
Craig L. Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters Association, was the only witness to warn that ENDA would gut religious liberty. The NRB represents the free speech interests of Christian broadcasters and organizations.
"Requiring discrimination laws to adequately protect and accommodate the religious liberties of faith groups is not a mere legislative prerogative: it is a constitutional mandate," Parshall said in his written testimony.
"It is my opinion that ENDA, as it stands now in the form of S. 811, would impose a substantial unconstitutional burden on religious organizations. Furthermore, it would interfere with their ability to effectively pursue their missions."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
ENDA would equate sexual deviancy rights to civil rights, thus requiring, for example, Christian schools to hire cross-dressing men.
UPDATE 5/30/14: From "Presidential Proclamation -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transponder Pride Month, 2014" by President Barack Obama, posted at WhiteHouse.gov
Last year, supporters of equality celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to strike down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, a ruling which, at long last, gave loving, committed families the respect and legal protections they deserve. In keeping with this decision, my Administration is extending family and spousal benefits -- from immigration benefits to military family benefits -- to legally married same-sex couples.
My Administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights. Here at home, we have strengthened laws against violence toward LGBT Americans, taken action to prevent bullying and harassment, and prohibited discrimination in housing and hospitals. Despite this progress, LGBT workers in too many States can be fired just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; I continue to call on the Congress to correct this injustice by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. . . .
To read the entire proclamation above, CLICK HERE.
