Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act Reintroduced in the House of Representatives

47%. That's the unbearable percentage of transgender people who report being fired, or denied a job or promotion, just because of who they are. Today, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was reintroduced in the United States House of Representatives. The bill would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees from workplace discrimination, and the protections it would offer are urgently needed.

In an already difficult economy, transgender workers face the added threat of being fired or passed over for a job just because of who they are. We need ENDA's protections in these difficult economic times to make sure that qualified, hardworking transgender people can get jobs to support themselves and their families.

ENDA would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Despite the tremendous discrimination that transgender workers face, only 12 states and Washington, DC currently protect transgender people from employment discrimination.

Transgender people deserve the same employment opportunities as everyone else. What matters is not who you are, but how well you do your job.

We thank Congressman Barney Frank for his work in introducing this bill. We will continue to keep you informed of developments relating to ENDA and our work to ensure equal employment opportunity.

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression, and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, community organizing and public policy efforts.