Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Re-Introduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Washington, DC –Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in support of today’s re-introduction of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA):

“Bias or prejudice should never stand in the way of a person getting or keeping a job. America affirmed this in 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act, when it guaranteed women, people of color, and religious minorities the right to be hired, paid and promoted according to their merits and not shunned because of who they are.

But for today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, this backward practice still lives on in the 29 states that permit discrimination based on sexual orientation and the 38 states that have not yet outlawed discrimination based on gender identity.  We cannot allow that to stand. 

Dozens of states and countless municipalities and corporations know this and have already banned such discrimination, opening doors of opportunity and strengthening their ability to attract workers with the skills to make them more competitive.

It is time for the federal government to lead the nation once again in protecting the right of every person in the U.S. to work hard, contribute to their communities, and pursue the American Dream with all the zeal they can muster.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act embodies the American value that employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and work ethics, no matter who they are. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights applauds the leadership of Reps. Barney Frank and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for their indefatigable advocacy for this measure. We urge Congress to reject the antiquated prejudices of the past and pass this bill.”

Nancy Zirkin is Executive Vice President 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, visit www.civilrights.org.