Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007

EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - November 07, 2007)

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Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Chairman, I am a proud cosponsor of the original Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that included gender identity.

I will support final passage of this legislation today because passing this bill is important and extending these protections is the right thing to do.

But I will cast my vote with deep regret the trangendered community has been denied the protections offered to gays and lesbians in this bill.

I did not support its removal from the overall legislation and am extremely disappointed that it will not be included when the House passes H.R. 3685.

I have cosponsored ENDA every session since I was first elected to Congress. I have strongly supported this legislation because it is an important step forward in eliminating discrimination against gay people.

I believe that all citizens should be treated equally in this country, regardless of their sexual orientation. Firing someone from their job, or evicting them from their home simply because of their sexual orientation, is immoral and undemocratic.

All members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community should be protected from employment discrimination, and by not including gender identity we are essentially abandoning Americans who, frankly, are among the most discriminated against individuals in this country.

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