WASHINGTON (AP)
Nov 27 2007, 5:30 PM |
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Two transgender members of the Human Rights
Campaign quit Tuesday, saying the group's support of an employment
nondiscrimination bill that excluded transgender workers put them "in
an untenable position." Jamison Green and
Donna Rose's resignations from the business council of the Human Rights
Campaign are effective immediately, according to a joint letter. The
Human Rights Campaign works for equal rights for gays, bisexuals and
transgender people.
"Considering recent
broken promises, the lack of credibility that HRC has with the
transgender community at large, and HRC's apparent lack of commitment
to healing the breach it has caused, we find it impossible to maintain
an effective working relationship with the organization," they said.
The
House, with support from the Human Rights Campaign, earlier this month
passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The measure would make it
illegal for employers to make decisions about hiring, firing, promoting
or paying an employee based on sexual orientation.
But
it does not protect transgender workers. That term covers transsexuals,
cross-dressers and others whose outward appearance does not match their
gender at birth.
Supporters of the bill say
it would not have passed the House if it had included transgender
protection. However, many transgender activists and their supporters
were furious at their exclusion from the legislation and lobbied to
scrap it.
The bill is now in the Senate.
"HRC
has always and will continue to be supportive of a fully inclusive ENDA
that protects our entire community," said Human Rights Campaign
spokesman Brad Luna. "While HRC was disappointed the bill did not
include protections for transgender Americans, we believe it paves the
way for additional progress to outlaw workplace discrimination based on
gender identity."
Luna said: "We wish Donna and Jamison well in their future endeavors."
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