Pride & Respect – ENDA

I do not follow politics much, but I do follow that which pertains to the safety and well being of my people. Workplace discrimination toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people was addressed today. A bill referred to as Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) earned 60 of the necessary senate votes to surpass its initial hurdle. Millions of our family and/or friends have been denied the bare minimum in terms of security and now the veil has dropped and rights are being realized.

Verbal and physical abuse, being turned away from jobs (you all saw the ‘Gay Need Not Apply’ tweets?), denied benefits, harassed, fired… The conduct of management can be intimidating for most people because we rely so heavily on income, and without it we cannot survive so we tread lightly. Never able to put up a fight.  I am glad someone found it within their heart to stand up for us all. Maltreatment is ludicrous thus uncalled for. The human race is constantly finding reasons to hate someone else, losing sight of what it means to show compassion and be present and aware for one another. I have had enough of the ridicule some of us face based off of irrelevant facts (or fictions). The revolting cases I read about (like my post on Africa) are overwhelming. The same people that preach for us to stand tall with pride while the world is watching are sometimes the very people tearing us right back down.

ENDA is our chance in the workplace to be viewed as human beings and valued, even if we know it is a sham. We should only be assessed based off of our achievements and experiences, nothing more. Banning unjust behaviors toward others is something I hope has a positive impact. I say that not just because of retaliation, but because there are laws against violence, stealing, murder…. and it still occurs. I just hope the world can find peace among their fellowman, but I seldom deem our species capable.

Truthfully, it all comes down to respect, both for oneself and for those around them.

[tabs slidertype=”top tabs”] [tabcontainer] [tabtext]From Civil Rights.Org[/tabtext] [/tabcontainer] [tabcontent] [tab]

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in advance of an expected Senate vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act:

“One of the most important ideals behind our nation’s movement for civil and human rights is that every worker should be judged solely on his or her merits. Today’s news that 60 senators have committed to voting for cloture on ENDA brings us another step closer to making this ideal a reality.

As we have seen with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ the growing number of states that embrace marriage equality, the demise of the Defense of Marriage Act, and ever-increasing levels of public bipartisan support, our nation’s progress on LGBT equality has reached a tipping point that can no longer be denied. As ENDA moves to the Senate floor and beyond, the only question left for lawmakers is whether they want to be remembered for standing on the right side of history.

We urge the Senate to allow a yes-or-no vote on ENDA and to swiftly approve this long overdue legislation.” Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.[/tab] [/tabcontent] [/tabs]