United Church of Christ - Protect LGBT Employees from Discrimination

UPDATE: Join the Interfaith Call-In Day for Equality!

Join in an interfaith Call-in Day to urge your senators to support ENDA and an end to workplace discrimination. Call 1-888-897-0174 and let your senators know that you are calling as a member of the faith community in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to end workplace discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers.

Talking Points for the September 17^th Interfaith Call-In Day on ENDA

ENDA ensures that all people are measured based on their qualifications for a job and the work they perform – it does not create “special rights.”
ENDA makes good business sense and helps build a stronger, protected workforce - 88% of Fortune 500 companies already have policies prohibiting discrimination against gay and lesbian employees, and 57% protect transgender employees.
ENDA conforms to our core religious belief that everyone is created in the image of the Divine and to our fundamental American ideals of equality – more than 73% of Americans support such legislation.
ENDA contains a broad religious exemption – concerns about religious freedom should not prevent support of this legislation.

When you call your senators’ offices, let them know that you are calling as a member of the faith community and that you support ending discrimination against LGBT workers.

Protect LGBT Employees from Discrimination

It is a matter of basic fairness and justice that workers be judged solely on the merits of their work and not on characteristics that have no bearing on their ability to do a job. Yet many people would be surprised to know that in 29 states, it is still legal to fire or refuse to hire someone simply based on their perceived sexual orientation. In 33 states, it is legal to discriminate in hiring and firing based on someone’s perceived gender identity.

Join the September 17th Interfaith Call-in Day to urge your senators to support ENDA and an end to workplace discrimination. Call 1-888-897-0174.

It is long past time to end this injustice. Congress can right this fundamental inequality by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

ENDA, reintroduced earlier this spring in both the House and Senate, would extend fair employment practices under federal law to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. ENDA is a fair, measured response to unjust discrimination. It has strong bipartisan backing in Congress, and the support of a diverse spectrum of faith communities, business leaders, civil rights organizations and education and labor groups. Yet Congress has not brought the legislation to the floor for a vote since 1996.

It is time for a vote on this common-sense measure to end workplace discrimination. It is good for everyone when workers can support their families and contribute to the economic life of our nation without fear of discrimination based on characteristics that have nothing to do with one’s ability to capably fulfill a job.

Understanding ENDA

ENDA would not create “special rights,” but would simply offer workers basic protection from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. ENDA exempts small businesses, religious organizations and the military, and does not require the provision of domestic partner benefits.

Our faith calls us to respect the full humanity of each person and to resist practices which deny individuals their full humanity. All of us are diminished when individuals are prevented from reaching their full potential and prohibited from contributing the full measure of their talent and ability to society.

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Dear [Decision Maker],

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As a person of faith, I believe all workers should be judged on their merits and qualifications, and not characteristics that have nothing to do with their ability to do the job.  Yet it remains legal in 29 states to fire or refuse to hire someone simply because of his or her perceived sexual orientation; in 33 states it is legal to discriminate solely on the basis of an individual's gender identity. I urge you to help end this injustice by cosponsoring and working to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

ENDA would extend fair employment practices under federal law to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.  It would not create any "special rights" but would simply offer workers basic protection from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  It is a crucial next step toward ending discrimination and achieving fairness under the law for every citizen.

I believe that decisions regarding employment in hiring, firing, training or promotion should be made on the basis of an individual's ability to do the job, not based on one's sexual orientation or identity.

My denomination, the United Church of Christ, has long supported civil rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, most notably in UCC General Synod resolution passed in 1975 affirming the "Christian conviction that all persons are entitled to full civil liberties under the law."

All of us are diminished when individuals are prevented from contributing the full measure of their talent and ability to society. It is good for everyone when workers can support their families and contribute to the economic life of our nation without fear of discrimination based on characteristics that have nothing to do with one's ability to capably fulfill a job.

I urge you to stand for fairness in the workplace by supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Thank you for your consideration of this important civil rights issue.  I look forward to your response

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]