To help give discrimination the "one two" punch, Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work recently launched SharedAgenda.org to build support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Employee Free Choice Act.
Join this campaign by submitting a video that explains to Americans why we need to quickly pass both pieces of pro-equality legislation. In four minutes or less, tell your audience why the Employee Free Choice Act and being a part of a labor union is important to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers.
Entry rules for video submissions and how to enter the SharedAgenda.org video contest here. All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2009 and the first place winner will get you a $400 UNITED Airlines gift certificate.
> Read guest commentary: "Working while gay should not be a fire-able offense." More about how the Employee Free Choice Act & unionization affects the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community after the jump.
Currently, there are no federal job non-discrimination protections that protect on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In 30 states, it is legal to fire someone on the basis of their sexual orientation. In 37 states, it is legal to fire someone on the basis of their gender identity. Union contracts allow LGBT workers who face discrimination to grieve and remedy that discrimination, as well as help LGBT people make equal pay to their heterosexual counterparts.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a pending piece of federal legislation, would bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Employee Free Choice steps in where ENDA ends, providing LGBT workers with the opportunity to bargain for benefits federal law does not mandate, including removing transgender health exclusions from employer provided health care plans and inclusive language for LGBT families in the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Unions including SEIU, AFL-CIO, NEA and CWA have stood up for LGBT people and over 60 international unions and union organizations have endorsed passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Now it is time for the LGBT and pro-equality ally communities to work together with advocates to promote a fair work place for everyone---or critical gaps in workplace protections will remain, even if stand alone federal legislation passes. (Read about the history of labor and LGBT activism here)
What You Can Do: Contact your Senator (202-224-3121) and Congressional Representative (202-225-3121) and ask them to Co-Sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Employee Free Choice Act. Together, they bring LGBT workers real protection on the job!
