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| Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD. | |||
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latest posts
May 21, 2004
After a recent historic day of lobbying the United States Congress, the transgender community is discussing trans-exclusion from the HRC-backed language of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).
Gwen Smith, a trans-activist and author, was one of about a dozen transgender activist of Transgender Menace who protested outside the headquarters of HRC in Washington, D.C. In her online blog, Smith shared what she describes as a "disturbing" roadblock to gender inclusive language in ENDA.
Now, information has come to me that shows why this remains the case within the beltway, even while transgender-inclusive change has happened across the country. The answer is as simple as it is disturbing: the Human Rights Campaign itself has been the roadblock.A day before I stood in front of HRC’s swank offices, a sibling activist visited a congress person’s office. They were supportive of transgender inclusion, but wondered out loud why HRC was no “on board” with this. Over the course of the next day, more heard similar questions from Congressional aides.
Another trans-activist from New Jersey, Rebecca Juro, wrote of the experience:
The kernel was the stunning tidbit NTAC lobbyists heard when visiting the office of a major Republican co-sponsor of ENDA. When asked if the congressman would be willing to support a version of ENDA that is inclusive of gender identity and expression protections, a closely-placed source responded, “If HRC would just get on board with this, it would be so much easier.” Those in many other congressional offices, while generally supportive of protecting Transgender Americans in civil rights legislation, were curious as to why HRC isn't supporting a trans-inclusive ENDA.
A recent press release from the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition didn't parse words on the matter:
On the negative side, the perennial gatekeepers to transgender rights still need more "time" and "education." As one Senate staffer said, it would be "immensely helpful" for us to get the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on board, and a House staffer bolstered it, saying their office would "be there in a minute - but it's not our bill. You need Barney [Frank D-MA], you need HRC.""All of the hard-sell the transgender community was given about Barney Frank and HRC championing our cause from their own press and from those they enlisted to pass along have been nothing more than illusion," said a markedly disappointed Vanessa Edwards Foster. "We're now faithless in these self-appointed conservators of our rights."
You can read more about this issue, including responses to from HRC, here:
Transadvocate: SONDA Revisted
May. 21st, 2004 @ 12:22 pm
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