Hate crimes and employment discrimination: the two bills

The names of the two federal bills ew must support:

Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act / Matthew Shepard Act

Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Correction: in an earlier post I had said that ENDA would stop harassment in the workplace. I actually read the description of the bill from National Center for Transgender Equality's site (scroll to bottom), and it does not mention workplace harassment, just discrimination in firing, hiring, and promoting:

"This legislation would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote an employee simply based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. It would reinforce the principle that employment decisions should be based upon a person’s qualifications and job performance." (italics mine)

So it does not mention workplace harassment as I had hoped, but I haven't read the full bill in awhile. But anyway, the bill still matters because we don't have any existing federal law to prevent discrimination in hiring, firing, promoting.

Bottom line: Tell your Senators/Reps to support ENDA and the Matthew Shephard Act (House version: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act)

*** And ask them if they include gender identity!!!!!!!!!!!!