Congress must act on ENDA

For the most part, Americans understand the injustice of workplace discrimination. The average person has basic moral intelligence to realize that denying someone the opportunity to make a living based on race, gender, sexual orientation or anything other than the ability to complete the job they desire is nothing but garbage. This is why I am baffled that Congress has yet to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and has failed to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA is a proposed bill in Congress that would prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity for civilian nonreligious employers. I find these two issues to be one in the same, because Don't Ask ,Don't Tell is nothing more than the largest example of workplace discrimination in our nation.

The United States Armed Forces employs more than three million individuals, making it the largest employer in the country. Yet, many of those three million individuals are forced to conceal their identity out of fear of losing their livelihood and the ability to serve their country.

From 1994 to 2008, almost 13,000 troops were discharged due to homosexual conduct. In order to be guilty of 'homosexual conduct' all you have to do is say three simple words: "I am gay." These troops come from all branches and all ranks of the United Sates Armed forces, and have cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars in training and recruitment.

President Obama called for a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell during his State of the Union address Jan. 27. During the presidential campaign Obama had made similar promises, but shortly after he took office, he released a statement saying the issue would be postponed until at least late 2010. With his most recent announcement taking place during the State of the Union, there is little doubt the policy will still exist a year from now. However, knowing politicians, I'll save my party hat for the day I can walk into a recruitment office draped in a rainbow flag (not that I have any desire to be a soldier).

ENDA has been introduced in every Congress, except the 109th, since 1994. However, it was not until 2007 that the bill included protection for trans individuals. President Obama does support the bill, which is a big change from Bush who threatened to veto ENDA if it made its way to his desk.

Currently, only 12 states and the District of Columbia have policies that protect against both sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment. Nine more states have policies that protect against only sexual orientation discrimination.

In New York, there is protection against sexual orientation discrimination in the work place. Hopefully, the New York Senate will pass Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act (GENDA) in the coming months and trans-New Yorkers will be free from threats to their livelihood. In December, Governor Paterson signed an executive order extending anti-discrimination protections to transgender state employees.

We are in a position where we may soon see the end of workplace discrimination of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community. However, nothing happens on its own. We must let our representative know that if they want our vote for re-election then they must first vote for equality.