The LGBT Community Needs to Lobby Together to Get EDNA Passed This Year

It’s magic time in Washington, D.C., and our LGBT media, bloggers and particularly lobbyists like Human Rights Campaign are not feeling that magic. Most are tripping over themselves to give what they believe should be the LGBT priorities for the Obama administration’s second term. All their suggestions are worthy, but they all miss the Washington magic. They’re looking in the wrong place.

Let’s take a cue from the Latino community. It’s the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue we should be focusing on — the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Latino community gets the game: Their lobbyists have a focus and make it simple for legislators to understand. For them, it’s the Dream Act. For us, it should be the Employment Nondiscrimination Act.

ENDA is the only major part of our priority list that is not accomplished. It’s important, since most LGBT Americans are still not protected in employment. Military servicemembers are; if you work for the U.S. government you are. To our lobbyists in D.C., isn’t it time to use our political capital for the rest of the people?

[Not Yet Equal]

I thought this could and would pass before repeal of DADT. It has been in the works for a long time now, and has come close before, but prejudice is difficult to overcome. The Republican party still wants to use the law to punish gay people, so this will remain a challenge as long as their official platform promotes prejudice and discrimination.

[Fa-Foxy]

I certainly don't think that EVERYTHING has been accomplished except the passage of ENDA.

We still have the federal DOMA statute, and a majority of states have constitutional amendments and\or laws, barring legal recognition of our marriages [in violationof the U.S. Constitution]. I would think this is more of a priority, or at least equal in priority to DOMA repeal.

We certainly don't have EVERYTHING.

[snyper]

I'm not passing "EDNA".

[Leftatalbuquerqu e]

snyper wrote:

I'm not passing "EDNA".

Dame Edna?

[snyper]

Leftatalbuquerque wrote:

<quoted text>
Dame Edna?

Well ... maybe her.

[Rick in Kansas]

House Republican majority = no ENDA or ENDA for that matter. The best we can hope for is an executive order implementing it on the federal level and for federal contractors and hope for a better outcome in 2015.

[WeTheSheeple]

Rick in Kansas wrote:

House Republican majority = no ENDA or ENDA for that matter. The best we can hope for is an executive order implementing it on the federal level and for federal contractors and hope for a better outcome in 2015.

Agree. As long as the GOP controls the House this bill goes nowhere.

[DNF]

snyper wrote:

I'm not passing "EDNA".

I'd like to hear why you don't support it.

[snyper]

DNF wrote:

<quoted text>I'd like to hear why you don't support it.

Read it again .... carefully.(smirk)

[Rick in Kansas]

snyper wrote:

Read it again .... carefully.(smirk)

What should really confuse him is that the original no longer has that problem.

[snyper]

Rick in Kansas wrote:

<quoted text>What should really confuse him is that the original no longer has that problem.

Still in the BOLD title.

I do it, too ... a lot.

But it's funny.

[DNF]

snyper wrote:

<quoted text>
Read it again .... carefully.(smirk)

Caught it now.

(giggles)

[DNF]

My apologies to all. When I posted this I didn't catch the error in the original headline.

The bill in question is the Employment Non Discrimination Act

(ENDA)

Not Edna.

Now excuse me I need to boil some noodles for my 30 lashings!

[Rick in Kansas]

DNF wrote:

My apologies to all. When I posted this I didn't catch the error in the original headline.
The bill in question is the Employment Non Discrimination Act
(ENDA)
Not Edna.
Now excuse me I need to boil some noodles for my 30 lashings!

Don't blame yourself, the people who got paid to catch that didn't. They didn't notice their goof until I posted a comment to them and I hadn't noticed until I saw the comments about it..

[snyper]

Rick in Kansas wrote:

<quoted text>Don't blame yourself, the people who got paid to catch that didn't. They didn't notice their goof until I posted a comment to them and I hadn't noticed until I saw the comments about it..

Researchers noted that as long as the first and last letter are correct, readers will usually make the necessary corrections mentally.

I just happen to be a floccinaucinihilipilifcator.

(For those who haven't been graced with a Classical Education, nor read Heinlein: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/floccinaucinihi... )