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Written by Lisa Neff, Staff writer
Aug 25, 2010
Labor Day arrives Sept. 6 with a renewed push to pass employment protections for LGBT workers.
The federal holiday – celebrated first in New York in 1882 – coincides with the resumption of congressional work in the capital following the August recess. With the return to work will come a return to lobbying on the Hill for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in hiring, firing, promotion or compensation. ENDA would not apply to employers with fewer than 15 employees or religious organizations.
“As we approach the waning days of this congressional session, we must continue to demand immediate action on critical legislation,” said Joe Solmonese of the national Human Rights Campaign. “LGBT voters and our allies will be keenly aware of congressional action or inaction as the November elections approach.”
LGBT civil rights advocates have long focused on passage of workplace protections at the federal level. Some form of ENDA has been introduced in each session of Congress since 1994.
Labor organizations have long served as allies on the legislation. In April, representatives from more than 200 groups sent federal lawmakers a message urging them to “pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act now.” Many co-signers represented LGBT groups, but a sizable number represented labor organizations. In total, more than 60 international unions and national union organizations have endorsed ENDA, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU and the Communication Workers of America.
“From the American Federation of Teachers to Association of Flight Attendants to the Painters and Allied Trades Union, from the UAW to the UFCW to UNITEHERE, from local Central Labor Councils to our Union Locals, union members across our broad diversity of workers stand in solidarity with our LGBT sisters and brothers,” said Pride at Work executive director Peggy Shorey.
Pride at Work is the LGBT constituency group of the AFL-CIO. It has built support for LGBT employment rights under the union’s historic motto: “An injury to one is an injury to all.”
“The labor movement unequivocally believes workers should be judged by their work, not who they are,” Shorey said.
ENDA was introduced in the Senate last August by Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snow from Maine and the late Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Kennedy, just three weeks before his death, said, “The promise of America will never be fulfilled as long as justice is denied to even one among us. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act brings us closer to fulfilling that promise for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens.”
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced the House version of the bill.
Federal law provides legal protection against employment discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, age and disability. In 29 states, it is legal to fire someone based sexual orientation and in 38 states, it is legal to fire someone for being transgender.
