LAMBDA LAW: One Community. One ENDA.

On Sept. 27, with no consultation with the community, members of Congress announced that they had decided to rush a new version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that does not include gender identity to a vote in the House of Representatives. The inclusive bill is HR 2015, and the non trans-inclusive version is HR 3685.

This would not only deny protections to transgender people, but also fail to protect lesbian, gay and bisexual people who do not conform to other people’s expectations (such as “effeminate” men and “masculine” women).

After an unprecedented outpouring of anger and frustration from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community — including a statement signed by more than 350 leading organizations who oppose this strategy — House leadership announced on Oct. 1 it was postponing action for a short period of time. However, on Thursday, Oct. 18, the House Education and Labor Committee nonetheless approved the sexual orientation-only bill.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) has proposed an amendment to this bill that will add the gender identity provisions back into it. While our preferred strategy would be to only advance the fully inclusive ENDA in the first place, we recognize Rep. Baldwin’s effort as our last best chance to get these protections back into ENDA. Her amendment will be considered on the House floor the week of Oct. 22.

That gives us a short window of time for all of us to get Congress moving again on an inclusive ENDA, not leave any part of our community behind and stop the non-inclusive bill. It is critical that your representative hear from you, saying that you expect him or her to: support the Baldwin amendment that would repair ENDA so that it protects all LGBT people..

Please e-mail your U.S. representative now.

Call your representative now — Use these talking points.

Here are other action steps you can take.