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Bi Writers Association Commends Lawmakers for Introduction of
Inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) Monday June 29, New York, NY – The Bi Writers Association applauds lawmakers today for introducing an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees from workplace discrimination. The bill, which enjoys bi-partisan support in Congress, would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws. Last year much work was done to make sure that transgender people were included in the bill. Now we need to make sure the bill gets passed so that all LGBT Americans will be protected from job discrimination. Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans. And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for an LGBT discrimination law than they are to vote against. At the National Summit on Putting the “B” in LGBT, openly bisexual speaker Meghan O’Connor told the story of how she was fired from her job, shortly after asking if she could bring her girlfriend to the company picnic (she was asked if she would like to invite a boyfriend) despite good performance revues. The Bi Writers Association worked with many LGBT organizations in last year’s push for an inclusive ENDA by participating in United ENDA conference calls and sending out ENDA action alerts to the bi community while pushing for bi-inclusive language to be used in United ENDA action alerts and press releases. “It’s of crucial importance, especially in a recession where jobs are scarce, to ensure that all employees have equal access to a fair and equitable workplace,” says Sheela Lambert, founder of the Bi Writers Association.
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