A friendly little message from our neighborhood gay rights group Basic Rights Oregon. I fully agree with this sentiment. We can’t leave behind part of our community for our own safety and security. It’s called morals…(Dare I say, family values?)
URGE CONGRESS TO LISTEN TO THE LGBT COMMUNITY AND OUR ALLIES!
WE OPPOSE HR 3685, A NON-INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT BILL!
SUPPORT ONLY THE ORIGINAL, INCLUSIVE HB 2015It has been a tremendous week here in Oregon as we continue to celebrate the survival of our statewide domestic partnership law and an anti-discrimination law that, when it goes into effect on January 1, 2008, will protect Oregonians from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
These victories would not have been possible without the support of a united LGBT and allied community that is committed to justice and equal rights for all Oregonians.
That’s why we are asking you to take a moment today to contact your Member of Congress and tell her or him that you join Basic Rights Oregon in urging Congress to OPPOSE HR 3685, a non-inclusive version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
House leaders intend to schedule HR 3685 for mark-up in the House Education and Labor Committee on Thursday, October 18, with a floor vote as soon as October 23. HR 3685 is an employment non-discrimination bill that does NOT ban discrimination based on gender identity; it also includes a far more sweeping religious exemption than we have seen in any other civil rights legislation of this kind.
We cannot support legislation that excludes part of the LGBT community. Please call the US Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative, or send an e-mail using this alert, to urge a NO vote on HR 3685 and push for a yes vote on HB 2015 (the original, inclusive ENDA).
HR 3685 is opposed by Basic Rights Oregon and more than 300 LGBT organizations around the country. Tens of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and our allies have contacted our members of Congress to express our dismay and to urge Congress to only support HR 2015, the original, inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act that will best protect ALL members of our community.
Your voice is urgently needed! Please call, fax, and email your representative in the House TODAY — even if you have already done so. We must continue to stand together to make our voices heard.
