Posted on 11/08/2007 3:34:20 PM PST by SmithL
National civil rights organizations are celebrating the passage by the House of legislation that would add "sexual orientation" to a list of federally protected classes, but some San Francisco groups refuse to take part in the party.
The vote Wednesday on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, also known as ENDA, postponed several times, was ultimately revised to remove protection for transgender workers, which upset gay rights groups here and across the country. Democratic leaders said the removal was necessary to get the act passed. But more than 300 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders opposed the exclusion, saying it is unfair and sends the wrong message.
"People are livid," said John Newsome, co-founder of And Castro for All, a bias awareness group. "If the first step out of the gate leaves people behind, it is an ill-conceived first step."
The Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights supported the revised bill, saying an incremental approach is sometimes necessary, and that the move marks a step forward.
"We are happy for our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters and understand that we are making legislative progress, but we feel that there is a lot of work still to be done," said Cecilia Chung, deputy director of San Francisco's Transgender Law Center. "We are disappointed that this version is not all-inclusive."
The act, which passed 235-184, makes it illegal for employers, except for churches and the military, to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting or paying an employee based on sexual orientation. Its chief proponent is Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., a gay rights advocate. The 1964 federal civil rights law already bans discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender or national origin.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
So did any Republicans vote for this abomination? And if so, which ones so we can make sure he/she has a primary opponent.
Well, it's nothing to get your panties all in a bunch over."
How very sickening!
Anybody else catch this line?
“saying an incremental approach is sometimes necessary, and that the move marks a step forward.”
The ACLU is telling them to STFU, we’ll get to that eventually, when it becomes “no big thing” to add it...
I dunno but my gut tells me W won't veto. In fact he may already have cut a deal not to veto so long as congress returns the favor on one of his pet projects.
I’d say that that’s a small number of pissed-off people, and a vanishingly small number of pissed-off voters.
I propose they all get naked and jump in a pile and console each other....perhaps on the National Mall in DC. That would emphasize their plight with appropriate San Francisco style.
There are only 233 Democrats in the House, so *at least* two Republicans voted for it.
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