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Trans activists have been resigning from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) over the organization's refusal to condemn the efforts of Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank to split ENDA into two pieces of legislation, effectively kicking trans people out of the only version of ENDA that the House Democratic leadership wants to pass. There also is perfectly understandable anger over the HRC's decision to support the trans exclusive version of ENDA.
Pride at Work has postponed its picket over Nancy Pelosi's presence at the dinner in response to her decision to delay the ENDA split for now. However, trans activists are picketing the dinner over the lack of support from the HRC for the unified bill.
From the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC) press release:
Recently, Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
(NCLR) authored and circulated a letter signed by more than 150 different state and national organizations and submitted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi petitioning for a return to one inclusive bill for the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), HR 2015 in its inclusive form.
From this effort has come a new ad-hoc campaign: United ENDA, the new collective of over 150 organizations (www.unitedenda. org) that have agreed to the principles of explicitly inclusive legislation submitted to Congress.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which claims to be the largest U.S. LGBT civil rights organization, has not signed onto an endorsement of the statement signed by the members of United ENDA, opposing the split of the proposed bill into separate legislation,“ one for sexual orientation and one for gender identity.
"We are very disappointed and angry that any civil rights organization claiming to advocate for our rights can turn their backs on us when the going gets tough," said Ethan St.Pierre, Board Chair of NTAC. "It amounts to a betrayal, since HRC earlier promised to support only an inclusive ENDA."
The call to action:
All those who stand in solidarity with the transgender community, including HRC Board members wishing to make a statement, are welcome to join us on Saturday, October 6th at 4:30 p.m. before the Major Donors Reception. The picketing will continue throughout the General Reception and Banquet.
A touchy subject and hard solution to a big problem. Cases in reference to discrimination in the work place such as gender identity and expression are seen in the court systems now. It must be address and I assumed HRC, had this covered. I would like to say that just one version of the Act might be a good start. Maybe by January, when the bill is to be reintroduced, the HRC stance will have changed.
We will leave no one behind. period.
any who would compromise this are washington insiders who do not know their gay american history.
We are intransigent. We will not accept protection for some while leaving behind our most vulnerable - any who do not or choose not to pass as "straight" Those Washington insiders who would sell out our four legged (letter) table be damned. No we will not be silent. Silence = death. We will not accept incriments on the promise that we will get to those people later. HELL NO ! and there is no such thing as a good(straight) enough gay to most haters. United we stand -divided we fall. Shame on those who would try to divide us.
end. rant. here.
omg the HRC just called me..no shit
i told them i was now a member of gender pac. The nerve of them..calling me. I said oh pleease, you wahsington insiders how could you even think of offering a bill without the T, guess they are feeling us..
Hell hath no fury like a Queer scorned. and i am just a teeny 90 lesbian in her 50th yr. but i know our history. Been out since i was 9 no lie. Its too funny as on my blog i got a video up of Wigstock with Lypsinka doing a schtick about how dare you call me after last night..
I feel a new invigoration for our community..Larry Kramer i hope is proud. yeah Larry, we are getting loud again. Thank you. Out of our grief will rise up - stronger more UNITED then ever. yep i believe it.
Good for you, proudprogressive. I am beginning to think the HRC got the ENDA screwover delayed so that they would have an excuse to have Pelosi at their pathetic dinner.