This week, the US House of Representatives passed a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects sexual orientation, but not gender identity. While this bill passed the House, it is unlikely to pass the Senate and President Bush committed to veto the bill. Despite the unlikelihood that the bill will pass into law, COLAGE joins over 360 organizations as part of the United ENDA coalition in expressing deep disappointment that this bill excludes gender identity protections.

We truly believed that this was an important opportunity to stand as a united LGBT movement, and demonstrate that we are unwilling to push forward the civil rights of part of our community without protections for all. An ENDA without gender identity protections leaves a significant portion of the LGBT community--not just transgender people--vulnerable to employment discrimination. Our parents deserve equal protection under the law, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, and we only support legislation that protects all of our families.

Thank you for your efforts over the past few weeks. Throughout the country, members of the LGBT community have reached out to their Members of Congress in support of a legislation protecting the entire community. We appreciate your part in this grassroots effort for national employment protections.

All of our families deserve equal employment protections, regardless of our parents' sexual orientation or gender identity. We look forward to working as part of a United ENDA to support future federal legislation that protects all of our families.