Last week, thousands of members of the LGBT community- COLAGErs included, delivered an uncompromising message to Congress: Vote for an Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that protects all LGBT people (H.R. 2015), and don’t settle for a substitute bill that leaves some people behind (H.R. 3685).

Congress heard you and postponed a vote on a substitute bill. However the new vote may come as early as next week so your voice is still needed now!

For youth with LGBT parents, having the security and protection of an ENDA bill impacts us the same whether we have lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender parents. We will not settle for a bill that would protect some members of our community but leave out others.

Congress is listening to us and is making up its mind about which bill to move forward — a bill that provides protections based on gender identity or a bill that does not. Your representative needs to hear from you, and needs to hear our message loud and clear.

Please, right now, make a phone call to your representative. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. An operator will connect you with your representative's office. When a staff person answers, tell them:
"I'm a constituent and I am calling about one bill I support and another I oppose. I support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, H.R. 2015, which protects all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from job discrimination. However, I urge you to oppose any motion or amendment that would strip out transgender protections, or any bill without transgender protections (such as H.R. 3685). We are one community and we want to move forward with one bill that protects all of us. Thank you."

You can also find out if your Representative is having a Town Hall meeting or other gathering in your District this weekend (check their web pages or call their offices). If so, attend and let your Representatives know that we need a transgender inclusive ENDA to pass. They need to hear from their constituents right now.

You can stay up to date on ENDA developments on the website of the National Center for Transgender Equality.