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What is next nationally.....
Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA)
The House Education and Labor Committee is scheduled to consider ENDA in the next few weeks, and then hopefully a full House vote soon after, maybe even before the end of the year.
H.R. 3017 (introduced in June 2009 by Rep. Barney Frank) would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
YOU can make a difference. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121, give your zipcode and ask to be connected to your representative. Or, you can send an email. Click here for a link to the U.S. House of Representatives website.
Please take a few minutes to let your representative know that YOU support equality and want want them to support ENDA (House Bill - H.R. 3017).
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Election results from across the country....
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In Maine, voters approved Question 1 by a narrow margin of 57% to 43%, a measure that overturns the state's marriage equality law passed earlier by their state legislature and signed by the Governor.
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In Washington state, voters approved Referendum 71, a measure that would expand domestic partnerships to have every state-level right and benefit afforded to married couples.
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In New Jersey, Governor Jon Corzine – endorsed by HRC – lost his re-election bid. He has been a strong ally for LGBT people in New Jersey, and he had pledged repeatedly to sign a marriage equality bill that could still be passed by legislators later this year.
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In Virginia, HRC endorsed Creigh Deeds for governor but unfortunately lost his bid. Deeds was also a supporter for the LGBT community.
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In Kalamazoo, Michigan, 65% of Kalamazoo voters disagreed and voted to approve Ordinance 1856, expanding the city's existing anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Closer to home, here in North Carolina.......
Mark Kleinschmidt was elected as the mayor of Chapel Hill and is the third out mayor in NC. It was a close race (49% to 43%). Click here to see a list of openly LGBT officials in NC (past and present).