PRESS RELEASES
Read the newest press releases in our news room and keep up to date on what is going on in Washington!
October 5, 2007
Equal Rights Washington Supports United Approach Towards Transgender Equality!
Equal Rights Washington supports, and has worked tirelessly for, an employment nondiscrimination bill and a hate crimes prevention bill that are inclusive of gender identity. ERW will continue to work with gay and non-gay organizations and elected leaders in Washington and across the country to ensure the passage and enactment of these laws.
We applaud the House and Senate on their recent action on the Matthew Shepard Act and call on the President to sign this bill into law when the Senate takes final action. But passage of hate crimes preventation act does not represent equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals and families. There is much to be done. Congress should move to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. Passage of a version of this bill that leaves transgender people unprotected or allows for discrimination based on gender identity violates the basic principle that people should be judged on the basis of their performance, not on an immutable characteristic like, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. We have reached a point in our society where to support a version of ENDA without gender identity is to tacitly, if not actively, suggest that discrimination against transgender people is acceptable behavior. ENDA must include gender identity.
While politics is the art of compromise, there can be no compromise on matters of basic civil rights. Representative Barney Frank and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are long time civil rights heroes. It pained us greatly when they suggested that an employment nondiscrimination bill stripped of protections based on gender identity should move forward instead of an inclusive bill. This “compromise” bill was unacceptable to a unified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The LGBT civil rights movement moved forward quickly to make its position known, each part of the movement playing its role with great authenticity. We are deeply gratified that rather than digging their heels in, Democratic leaders heard our robust call and postponed action. But postponement is a reprieve not a victory.
Equal Rights Washington now commits itself to working with all individuals and organizations who support an ENDA that is inclusive of gender identity. We will work tirelessly to educate legislators and the public about the need for this law and the lives of transgender people. We understand that our goal is not merely the passage of laws but ensuring the dignity or transgender people as they (we) go about the activities of our daily lives.
At the state level ERW is working to add gender identity and expression to the State’s hate crimes prevention law that already includes sexual orientation. Look for legislation to be filed for the 2008 legislative session. We will build off our success last year of passing a state-wide anti-discrimination law that included gender identity. ERW will continue to work with transgender advocates in Washington state to ensure that transgender residents can easily get drivers licenses that are in conformity with their gender identity.
At different points in any civil rights movement different individuals and/or organizations step to the plate to provide critical leadership. At this moment in time Equal Rights Washington wishes to call out for particular recognition the Equality Federation, the Task Force (NGLTF) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR).
Equal Rights Washington (ERW) works to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Washingtonians.
