TTPC

This weekend, many Americans will take some time to honor and celebrate the achievements of servicemembers and veterans who have risked their lives, and in some cases, made the ultimate sacrifice, for their country.  Many who have served, and continue to serve, are transgender.  Sadly, once a transgender person comes out of the closet, they face immediate discharge from voluntary military service.

At the present time, there is no legislation pending in Congress which will end discrimination against transgender persons in the military.

Pass ENDA Now

There is, however, a bill pending that does ban discrimination against all LGBT people, the Employment Non Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R.3017).  The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition has joined several hundred other local, state, and national organizations calling on Members of Congress to begin action immediately.  We are tired of the delays.

Currently two members of the Tennessee delegation are co-sponsors of ENDA, Jim Cooper (202-225-4311) and Stephen Cohen (202-225-3265).

Please contact them and thank them for their support, but also urge them to oppose any Motion to Recommit designed to delay the bill or weaken transgender protections in the bill.

The rest of Tennessee’s Representatives are:

• Phil Roe, M.D., 202-225-6356, Member of the House Education and Labor Committee
• John Duncan, Jr., 202-225-5435
• Zach Wamp, 202-225-3271, candidate for Governor of Tennessee
• Lincoln Davis, 202-225-6831
• Bart Gordon, 202-225-4231
• Marsha Blackburn, 202-225-2811
• John Tanner, 202-225-4714

and Tennessee’s Senators are:

• Lamar Alexander, 202-224-4944, Member of the Senate HELP Committee
• Bob Corker, 202-224-3344

Use this message:

My name is _____ and I am a proud resident of (your city, county). I am calling in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (S.1584; H.R. 3017), to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. Please take action to pass ENDA now. I can be reached at _______ (give your phone number). Thank you.

It only takes a moment.  Your action can help shape the future.

Currently, 12 states and more than 100 localities have LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans.  The State of Tennessee is not one of those states, but the Tennessee Board of Regents, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and in 2009, both Shelby County and Metro Nashville, have all adopted such policies for their employees.  Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, including most recently, Federal Express, have enacted nondiscrimination policies protecting LGBT workers.  Other agencies and private employers based in Tennessee do have such policies in place, but many remain unprotected.

And, according to numerous surveys, large majorities of likely voters in the U.S. support federal employment non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT people. Polling data from 2006 shows that voters are more likely to support a candidate who votes for LGBT discrimination laws than they are to vote against.