« Obama Makes The Post-Boomer Pitch | Main | A Dead Heat »
ENDA Passes The House
07 Nov 2007 07:42 pm
The roll-call. Money quote:
"This historic day marks tremendous progress in efforts to provide basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans. This long overdue bill makes it very clear that what matters in the workplace is competence and fairness—not sexual orientation," - Patrick Sammon, president Log Cabin Republicans.
But this is Barney's moment. The Republicans - exempting 35 of them - did their best to link employment non-discrimination to marriage rights, expressing their usual spite toward those gay couples who have dared to commit to one another in law and love, by a legislative distraction. But they failed in the end. And most of us are used to the abuse by now. We do not need their affirmation to love one another. But some do still need some framework of protection in order to work without fear - especially in those states where gay couples have been targeted as public threats to the family.
I haven't always supported this legislation, and my libertarian heart is not thrilled by it. But every other minority is federally protected from discrimination in employment; it is increasingly a form of prejudice to say that gay people can be fired at will from their jobs just for being who they are. HRC deserves congratulations as well. This was their goal for so long, and now it has finally passed the House. As for Barney, he has such a sharp mind but an even bigger heart. This is his moment. His speech - full of parliamentary procedure and deep, deep pain, catches the throat at the 5 minute mark:
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2224950/23146648
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference 'ENDA Passes The House'
The Wrong Direction On Gay Rights
Excerpt: Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that is already being hailed as a major victory for gay rights. Rather than a victory, though, Id consider it a setback, since it places gay rights into the same entitlement category as ...
Weblog: The Liberty Papers
Tracked: Nov 8, 2007 7:50:49 AM
Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Excerpt: The proposed law imposing liability on private employers who discriminate on the basis of employees' sexual orientation has cleared the House for the first time. My own views haven't changed since I wrote on the...
Weblog: Overlawyered
Tracked: Nov 10, 2007 12:42:18 PM
