Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

As your constituent and a member of the Human Rights Campaign, I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

It is simply unacceptable that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people can still be fired or refused a job based on characteristics wholly unrelated to job performance. ENDA would stop this injustice against our community and let these hardworking Americans support their families and be a part of our national economy without fear of arbitrary discrimination. We hope you will support this legislation in the 111th Congress.

The American people believe in fairness and understand that employees should be judged on the merits, not on sexual orientation or gender identity. A January 2007 Hart Research poll found that six out of ten Americans support federal legislation to address workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Yet, today, it remains perfectly legal in 29 states to fire someone based simply on sexual orientation, and in 38 states to do so based on gender identity.

In today's difficult economy, no one should have to face the additional challenge of discrimination in the workplace. I urge you to support these common-sense protections and co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act today.