The Gist

ENDA Vote Postponed

This is what happens when people come together and make their voices heard. I think the Democratic leadership was struck by how quickly activists organized, and how we spoke in a pretty unified voice. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Matt Foreman, taking a leadership role in this, had gotten 90 groups together yesterday to send a message to Congress that transgendered people must be included, and organized over 2000 churches to have their congregations call Congress. Also, Lambda Legal did an analysis of the new bill and found that in addition to gender identity being removed, protections for sexual orientation had been weakened as well.

The Human Rights Campaign also joined other civil rights groups yesterday late in the day, signing a letter supporting the original ENDA. Good for HRC, even if it took several days. Note, however, that HRC did not sign the NGLTF letter which specifically said those signed on would not support any legislation that dropped the trannies. The HRC-signed letter only calls for canceling the vote for today while pledging support for the original ENDA. So HRC, perhaps, is trying to keeping the option open to support ENDA without trans-inclusion if Congressional leaders eventually proceed that way later this month. Perhaps. And the SF Chronicle story alludes to HRC perhaps also wanting to diffuse this situation, for now, so there wouldn't be protests this Saturday at its dinner honoring Nancy Pelosi. Anyway, more on this to come.