Job discrimination bill ignites latest skirmish over gay rights

[babylonsister]

Job discrimination bill ignites latest skirmish over gay rights
By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — Michael Carney, a gay cop in Massachusetts, figures there’s one reason he got his job back: The state makes it illegal to discriminate against employees because of sexual orientation.

But in 31 states, including Missouri and Kansas, employees have no such legal protection. Carney, who left his job when he was struggling as a closeted gay and then was reinstated after a long legal battle, hopes that will change. He’s urging Congress to pass a federal law called the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, which would put bias involving sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace on the same legal footing as discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age and disability.

With a vote expected in the House of Representatives in the next month, the latest twist over gay rights is setting off a skirmish on Capitol Hill.

The Traditional Values Coalition is lobbying against the bill, saying it would make “homosexuality and gender confusion” a protected class and “describes how employers are to treat cross-dressers, drag queens and transsexuals.”

On the other side is Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Methodist minister from Kansas City and one of the bill’s 165 co-sponsors. Testifying at a hearing earlier this month, he said he listens to religious radio almost every day, and he’s familiar with the arguments.

“No one has yet explained," he said, "how keeping someone from gaining equal consideration based on their individual skill set to obtain lawful employment pleases God.”

more...

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/19736.html

[terrya]

1. ENDA should have passed years ago.

I do not understand why a bill that says you can't fire an employee solely because they are gay or lesbian is not the law of the land. But I guess I'm sort of naive...

Prediction: this Congress will finally pass ENDA. But that piece of shit in the White House will veto it. Maybe the next Democratic President will finally do the right thing snd sign it.

[JackBeck]

2. Why do gay people constantly ask for special rights?

Just like the Hate Crimes Bill, they keep asking to be included in legislation that would make they an equal class.

Why is that?

[xchrom]

4. if only we would learn to stay in our place -- in the closet --

oh wait -- it's full of republick party people.

[JackBeck]

5. If it takes me going back in the closet

in order to kick them out, I'll take one for the team at this point.

And I'm sick of the back of the bus meme from so called progressives. As I'm sure you are as well.

As a Jersey boy, I'm still waiting for an apology from those DUers who said my state was going to lose the last election for our party.

[xchrom]

7. i was LECTURED today for being a single issue voter -- because i'm not excited about HRC.

so i'm with you all the way.

i just don't want a replay of the bad ol'days.

[JackBeck]

8. Yeah, Bill was such a huge supporter of our community.

Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Marriage Amendment Act.

We even had a Democratic Congress that was allegedly "sympathetic" before Gingrich got what he asked for.

I'm to the point where I feel neither party has our back, let alone DU.

[MuseRider]

10. That is some single issue there.

I mean really, it is your life you are talking about. Single issue? God if the people who said that to you were to face what you face daily for your whole life they would be frothing at the mouth. Single issue my ass. Quality of life is a lot more than a single issue.

[xchrom]

12. ain't that right? n/t

[xchrom]

3. when the frothing and foaming anti-christers come calling --

from Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Methodist minister from Kansas City “No one has yet explained," he said, "how keeping someone from gaining equal consideration based on their individual skill set to obtain lawful employment pleases God.”

[bluestateguy]

6. This is long overdue

I predict that the House will pass it, and then the bill will disappear down that giant rat hole known as the US Senate.

[MuseRider]

9. In Kansas we have a bill

waiting in committee. We have been working on it for some time now and our Governor just stated that she supports it after she signed her executive order including sexual orientation and gender identity for her employees, some 37,000 of them in Kansas.

Tuesday I am going to an editorial board with our KEC chair and a rep from the HRC to talk about these things. Here is hoping for success this year. We should get it out of committee and we are pretty sure to get it through the Senate but the House is wacko land, it will most likely die there this year. We will keep it up. It is very much like ENDA and we are hoping to tie on to some momentum if the feds pass it.

[uppityperson]

11. Needs to be passed and the logic is stupid.

No, there would not be a protected class. Not anymore. It would put all employees into 1 class instead of having a protected "hetero" class. fools.