FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [Thursday, September 27, 2007]

Contact: Jessica Bowers
Communications Director
press@stonewalldems.org

Denver, CO – In response to recent news stories indicating that some U.S. House of Representatives leaders are considering the removal of transgender protections from the national Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Colorado Stonewall Democrats (CSD) wish to reiterate their position that both gender identity and sexual orientation must be included in any meaningful version of ENDA.

In a joint statement, CSD Chair Jeffrey Shaw and Vice-Chair Karen Bachman “applaud the statement issued earlier today by a coalition of LGBT rights groups – which included the National Stonewall Democrats – where each organization stated that their position against exclusion of transgender rights from ENDA remains clear and consistent.”

“Protection against gender identity or expression based discrimination benefits all LGBT Americans,” added Jessica Bowers, CSD Communications Director. “Much of the discrimination directed against gay, lesbian, and bisexual members of our community is based on our perceived variance from gender norms that narrowly define how women or men are ‘supposed’ to act, speak, dress, or carry themselves.”

“Political expedience is not an acceptable reason for excluding trans protections from this bill,” said Shaw. “Whether the bill moves forward with or without transgender protections, we will continue our efforts to educate members of the Democratic Party on the importance of being inclusive of the rights of all LGBT people.”

Colorado Stonewall Democrats urge all LGBT Coloradoans and their allies to contact their state representatives and express their opposition to a non-trans-inclusive ENDA.

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Colorado Stonewall Democrats engage and educate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and the Democratic Party as advocates for equality through the political process.

www.stonewalldems.org

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