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It is a time of fear in the face of freedom, a time of barricaded roads and new paths. Maps fade and direction is lost as we glance sideways at the strange lands through which we pass, knowing for certain only that our destination has disappeared. We are unready to meet these times but we proceed nonetheless, adapting as we wander, reshaping the Earth with every tread. Gone are the old times, the standard times, the high times. Welcome to the irregular times.

Sit-In Protest at Nancy Pelosi’s Office by LGBT Activists Tired of Non-Action on ENDA
posted 18th March 2010 in Activism, Democrats, Legislation, Politics, Sex and Gender by Jim

H.R. 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, has a whopping 198 cosponsors in the House of Representatives — the most recent Representative adding her signature was Betsy Markey on March 3. The bill, which would make it illegal to hire or fire people on the basis of their sexual orientation, is uncontroversial to people who oppose discrimination. It should be uncontroversial to the Democratic Party leadership which raised so much campaign cash during the 2008 election season from gay and lesbian activists. The Democrats told gay and lesbian Americans that the Change was coming.

And yet the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (aka ENDA) has seen no action on the floor.

Tired of promises and waiting and more promises and more waiting, a group of activists from Nancy Pelosi‘s office. They say they won’t leave until either they are arrested or the Speaker of the House commits to bring H.R. 3017 to the floor for a vote.

From their e-mail flash announcement:

Nancy Pelosi has the ability to end workplace discrimination of LGBTQ people, but she is refusing to act. It’s time to let her know that we won’t wait any longer.
As you read this, GetEqual.org members are entering Pelosi’s offices in DC and her district office in San Francisco….

Can you call Speaker Pelosi right now to demand that ENDA (HR 3017) move to the floor for a vote? Call (202) 225-4965….

A majority of Congress supports this bill to stop job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but promises to bring it to a vote last fall were broken several times. ENDA has been jammed up in committee for six months, awaiting a signal from Speaker Pelosi that hasn’t come. We have visited, called and written Congress by the thousands, and have been ignored. The usual lobbying tactics do not appear to be having the needed effect. Now the midterm elections are coming, and Speaker Pelosi has promised Congress no more “controversial” votes. The “controversy” is whether LGBT Americans have the right to a job.

If you support ENDA legislation, now would be a good time to call Speaker Pelosi’s office and show your support. If 202-225-4965 is busy, call Pelosi’s California office at 415-556-4862.

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