CHARLOTTE —Advocates across the country are ramping up efforts to discuss issues of anti-LGBT employment discrimination as U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s promise to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to vote before the end of the year draws closer and closer.
The Human Rights Campaign is working nationally and locally on the issue. Field organizer Jessica Osborn has been in the state since Sunday and met with members of Rep. Larry Kissell’s staff yesterday. Kissell, a Democrat who represents the 8th District, has previously voiced support for the bill. Osborn and HRC are hopeful Kissell might sign on as a co-sponsor.
Osborn told qnotes it is important for national groups like HRC to work with local constituents on building support among voters and the elected officials who represent them.
Osborn is working with local HRC volunteers, canvassing voters and building awareness at local hotspots. She and the local HRC crew were set to visit Petra’s Piano Bar and Cabaret in Plaza-Midwood on Thursday evening.
Osborn heads to Raleigh next week, where she will work with local supporters in building support and speaking to 2nd Congressional District Democrat Bob Etheridge.
I think we can stick a fork into ENDA. If Pelosi does actually do what she says ( I cannot imagine a politician not actually doing what they say they would…. ) I would suspect it will be so late it will not see the Senate or it will be so close to the elections that few Representatives would vote for something that might cost them votes. It is too bad as it would have been relatively easy to pass ENDA last year. The Congress has pretty much made it’s feelings known pretty clearly as they have let ENDA die in committee and shelved DADT.