Unions & LGBT Democrats Start Push for EFCA

Washington, DC - Today, the Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work (AFL-CIO) launched an unprecedented campaign to build support for two pieces of pro-equality federal legislation - the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).  SharedAgenda.org, a joint program of both organizations, aims to build support for Employment Non-Discrimination Act among rank-and-file union members while increasing support for the Employee Free Choice Act among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied voters.

"When our community was building support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last year, we recognized that a broad coalition of Americans is needed to ensure passage of an effective,inclusive bill," said Jeremy Bishop, Executive Director of Pride At Work. "The labor community, through the dedication of Pride At Work members and activists, was at the forefront of that coalition, signing up over 39 unions and union organizations to support an inclusive bill- more than any other allied constituency."

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act would close existing some legal loopholes in federal law that allow for legal employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  An additional piece of pro-equality legislation, the Employee Free Choice Act, would allow employees the legal option of organizing their workplace with a method of their choosing rather than through an employer-dictated process.

"The Employee Free Choice Act is the great, undiscovered ally in our fight for equality," said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of the Stonewall Democrats.  "Allowing employees to form and join a union will benefit millions of workers who live in jurisdictions that don't have non-discrimination legislation, don't qualify under the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act because the company is too small or religiously exempt, or don't have access to benefits and protections for their same-sex spouse, partner, or family.  Unions have secured employment protections and benefits for LGBT workers even where passage of state-level legislation has failed.  The Employee Free Choice Act is not only good for the general workforce, but it specifically benefits LGBT employees seeking a better work environment."

SharedAgenda.org organizes online support for both the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Employee Free Choice Act.  The site, which provides resources and the latest news on both pieces of legislation, is designed to be utilized as a tool by both the organized labor community and the LGBT and pro-equality allied community.

Stonewall Democrats and Pride At Work also announced a video contest in conjunction with the launch of SharedAgenda.org.  The SharedAgenda.org video contest asks individuals to upload a short video effectively explaining why being in a labor union is important to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers.  Between now and May 15, members can submit their videos (rules and contest details available on theSharedAgenda.org website).  Winners receiving packages that include items like a $400 United Airlines travel voucher.

To learn more about ENDA and EFCA, and to pledge your support, visit:
www.SharedAgenda.org

At their heart, the Employee Free Choice Act and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act have the same goal: All employees should be able to go to work free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bigotry.  Passing both pieces of legislation is critical to achieving that goal.

Over the last 30 years the Labor movement has been at the forefront of advancing LGBT rights, often when politicians have been slower to lead. In 1975, a union representing bus drivers in Ann Arbor, Michigan, became the first union in the country to add sexual orientation to their union contract's non-discrimination clause-ahead of nearly all non-discrimination laws.  And in what was eventually portrayed in the film Milk, LGBT advocates - who later founded Pride At Work - partnered in the 1970's with the Teamsters union in San Francisco to organize to remove Coors beer from bars in the city's Castro district because the corporation wouldn't sign contracts with its employees.  Later, the Teamsters would back Harvey Milk in his historic run for public office.

Passing the Employee Free Choice Act and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act are critical steps to enacting pro-equality policy positions.  SharedAgenda.org will help organized labor and LGBT Americans share in building support for both pieces of legislation.

With more than 120 local chapters the Stonewall Democrats is the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied Democrats.  Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and improve the Democratic Party on issues important to pro-equality Americans.
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