FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Jones
(619) 692-2077, ext. 204
The San Diego LGBT Community Center (The Center) has called today’s vote on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) “a bittersweet moment in our movement’s history.”
The measure passed with a vote of 235-184. However, the amendment pushed by U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin, which would have extended the protections to transgender employees, was withdrawn due to lack of support.
“After three decades of work to pass a simple, basic piece of legislation, this is clearly a victory, but not a complete one,” said Dr. Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center. “The San Diego LGBT Community Center is not inclusive in name only. We supported the original version of ENDA, which would have protected lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination in employment.
“While there is some measure of success here, we have waited for far too long for this most basic of protections – the right to work free of discrimination,” Jacobs said. “It is incredibly disappointing that a portion of our community has been left behind for political expediency.”
Jacobs said political expediency is a wrong-headed direction, especially given that the Bush Administration has indicated the president will veto the bill.
“We call on President Bush to do the right thing and let this bill become law,” Jacobs said. “We are not optimistic that he will, given that he seems to save his veto stamp for measures that would actually provide real help for Americans.”
For more information on The Center’s Public Policy Department, please contact Caroline Dessert at (619) 692-2077, ext. 111 or at cdessert@thecentersd.org.
The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, Inc., (d.b.a., The Center) is the nation's second oldest and third largest LGBT community center. Functioning as the LGBT community's leadership organization, The Center is led by a 20-member board of directors, employs over 40 paid staff and utilizes more than 300 community volunteers. Incorporated in 1973 as a community-based, non-profit, 501(c) (3) agency, The Center has more than thirty years of experience as a health and human services agency. In 2006, The Center provided direct services to more than 25,000 community members and through its events, activities and advocacy, touched the lives of thousands more.
-30-