Tucson Observer

More than 7,500 signatures from LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) and straight supportive individuals, from all 50 states and 36 countries have been presented to Congressman and LGBT ally, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Civil Rights, calling for the expansion of the 1964 U.S. Civil Rights Act. Online organizing network The Power held a press conference outside the Stonewall Inn in New York City to make the presentation to expand the Act to include LGBT Americans

“We the undersigned call up you and your colleagues to … declare it the public policy of the United States that discrimination based on LGBT status is prohibited,” the petition, which can be found at ThePowerOnline.org, reads. According to organizers, they are in the process of gathering more online signatures to present this document to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Open Lesbian U.S. Member of Congress, Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), introduced the Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act (ELHDA), the first comprehensive approach to improving all areas of the health care system where LGBT Americans face inequality and discrimination.

“Our current health care system fails LGBT Americans on many levels,” said Congresswoman Baldwin. “Although we have ample anecdotal evidence of these disparities, the federal government lacks even the most basic data on sexual orientation and gender identity and health. This bill invests in research and takes critical steps towards improving the health of LGBT Americans and their families,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin’s bill, H.R. 3001, in addition to investing in data collection and research, the bill establishes non-discrimination policies for all federal health programs, provides funding for cultural competence training for health care providers, extends Medicare benefits to same-sex domestic partners, creates a new office of LGBT Health within in the Department of Health and Human Services, and provides funding for community health centers who serve the LGBT community.

H.R. 3001 has the support of the Human Rights Campaign; National Coalition for LGBT Health; The AIDS Institute; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National; National Center for Transgender Equality; AIDS Action; American Psychological Association; Mautner Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization; and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Openly Gay U.S. House of Representative, Barney Frank, D-MA, has introduced legislation to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, perceived or otherwise, the 2009 Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Frank’s bill, which has 118 original cosponsors, up from 62 from the previous version in the 110th Congress, would extend federal employment laws, which currently prevent job discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability, to also cover sexual orientation and gender identity and covers both the public and private sectors.

Congressman Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions of the Education and Labor Committee, plans to hold hearings on the 2009 version of ENDA in July.

“I am encouraged that we are going to be able to do this year what we were not able to do a couple years ago and that is to pass a fully inclusive bill,” said Congressman Frank. “I urge people to keep up lobbying. You can now take for granted that there will be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives almost certainly this calendar year on a fully inclusive ENDA. At this point it is essential that everybody who cares about this lobbies his or her Representative and Senators. When you’re through with that, go to other people and get them to lobby their Representative and Senators because we have a President ready to sign it, and I think things are well inclined for this to happen.”

“This is an historic moment because I share Congressman Frank’s optimism that we will be able to advance this legislation,” said open Lesbian Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). “It will be the first piece of major LGBT civil rights legislation ever enacted by this Congress. The power of the Congress of the United States recognizing that discrimination in employment exists against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and saying that it is wrong, that it is illegal, is an incredibly important thing.”

“Our businesses need to be able to tap into the very best and brightest to compete in a global environment,” said open Gay Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO). “Discriminating against people on the basis of race, or gender, or physical disability, or sexual orientation and gender identity, is simply inefficient and puts American businesses at a disadvantage in a global economy. By passing ENDA, we can ensure that American businesses have access to and hire the very best and brightest to be able to compete and build those leaders through those organizations.”