Friends and Allies:

For the past three weeks, the LGBT and civil rights
communities have worked tirelessly for an Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)that protects everyone in
the LGBT community.

On Thursday, in a close vote, the US House Committee
on Education and Labor approved a version of ENDA that
includes basic but much-needed employment protections
based upon sexual orientation. However, this version
of ENDA fails to protect against discrimination based
upon gender identity and expression. As such, it
leaves any gender non-conforming person vulnerable to
employment discrimination. Most clearly, it
completely excludes protection for transgender
Americans.

Despite our deep disappointment, we can claim
significant victories. We at the grass-roots level
have made our voices heard on Capitol Hill like never
before. Hearing our call, courageous Democrats on the
House Education and Labor Committee– Linda Sanchez of
California, Rush Holt of New Jersey, Yvette Clarke of
New York and Dennis Kucinich of Ohio– ignored
significant pressure placed upon them and joined with
us, insisting on an inclusive ENDA and voting against
the exclusionary bill.

And now, openly lesbian US Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
(D-WI), will introduce an amendment on the floor of
the House to add gender identity back into ENDA.

Thanks to Congresswoman Baldwin and Speaker Pelosi,
who delayed presentation of ENDA to afford each of us
the opportunity to lobby our Congresspeople to support
an inclusive ENDA, we have had an opportunity to
educate Congress and the American people about our
diverse, LGBT community, and to rectify a terrible and
divisive situation. That opportunity is not over. We
still have the chance to take a stand and fight for
what we know is right.

We must get the Baldwin Amendment passed. We must
mobilize every fair-minded person in this country to
contact their Congressmember and urge their vote for
the Baldwin Amendment. To accomplish this, the United
ENDA coalition has created a communications strategy
that includes placing ads on progressive blogs asking
people to take action and support the Baldwin
Amendment.

Please consider donating money toward the placement of
these blog ads today. We estimate that it will cost
$6,000 to place the ads on progressive blogs
that will reach Americans in every part of the
country. Please donate as much as you can– all money
received will go toward the placement of these blog
ads. You don’t have to be a coalition member to
donate.

Any funds left over will be donated to the National
Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE) to create a
Congressional Transgender Education Fund to educate
Congress on issues surrounding gender identity.

If you believe inclusion is the solution, donate
today.
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=3502

Sincerely
Susan Christian, John Newsome, Laura Spanjian, and Robert Haaland