ENDA Rift: Throw Tammy Baldwin Under the Bus?
A historic vote took place yesterday. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was finally passed, having first been introduced in 1974. Thirty three long, hard fought years and the measure “was approved 235 to 184, perhaps reflecting polls showing that a plurality of Americans believe homosexuality should be accepted."
All did not celebrate the bill, though. Through what was deemed necessary, strategic moves, the gender identity piece of the law was removed in order to assure, the community was told, passage. In an attempt to reintroduce the removed language, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) presented an amendment, she said, “because I strongly believe that we must prohibit job discrimination against people because of their gender identity.” It was not a long fight on her part but a symbolic one. Some were ready to throw Baldwin under the bus for ultimately voting for the bill.
As this entire debate has been, because President Bush as promised a veto.
I appreciate and support Congresswoman Baldwin- she was true to her beliefs. She also voted Yes to ENDA without her amendment, because, “The importance of non-discrimination laws cannot be overstated. Substantively, they provide legal remedies and a chance to seek justice.” If I were on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday? I would have voted Yes, too.
It would have made me sick. But I would have done it.
What has been missing from the debate, mainly focused on transgender people with foes playing up fears of penises showing up in women’s locker rooms, is the very real discrimination against all people- straight, gay, bisexual and transgender- for not conforming to “rules” about gender expression. It’s about the straight “ bartender who refused to wear makeup at a Reno casino” and ended up losing, the court siding with the casino, ruling she was not unfairly dismissed from her job as much as it's about Susan Stanton losing her job when she announced she would be transitioning.
For me, it's personal- I'm not a petite blond in a bikini. I get called sir on a daily basis. I had a job where I was asked to wear a skirt for client meetings. I interviewed at another and refused because at this small start up software company in the early 90’s, women were not allowed to wear pants. I love getting dressed up but please don’t ask me to wear a dress. It makes me miserable. If you ask me to wear make-up, I’m going to look like a clown.
It's personal because one of my kids struggles with gender identity. I watch his pain and know there is a very real chance he is transgender. Threaten my children's rights and I am no longer sane... throw him under the bus and I'll go out and pick that damn bus up and throw it off the road.
And it's personal because it is a statement about my community. What we are willing to do, and how we are willing to walk in the world.
It is a devastating loss. In 1987, Massachusetts passed a gay and lesbian civil rights bill. Twenty years later, we still have no gender identity protections. The only state in the country with legally recognized gay marriage and no protections for gender expression.
As a community, we need to reframe where we are. It's not about making chicken salad out of chicken shit, which implies making due with what we have. It's about creating a calculated, thoughtful strategy for moving forward, building on what we have. It's about making stone soup. I believe that’s what Congresswoman Baldwin was trying to do. Regardless, I am going to support her because I am unwilling to throw anyone under the bus.
Now we have to move forward. Together.
All did not celebrate the bill, though. Through what was deemed necessary, strategic moves, the gender identity piece of the law was removed in order to assure, the community was told, passage. In an attempt to reintroduce the removed language, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) presented an amendment, she said, “because I strongly believe that we must prohibit job discrimination against people because of their gender identity.” It was not a long fight on her part but a symbolic one. Some were ready to throw Baldwin under the bus for ultimately voting for the bill.
As this entire debate has been, because President Bush as promised a veto.
I appreciate and support Congresswoman Baldwin- she was true to her beliefs. She also voted Yes to ENDA without her amendment, because, “The importance of non-discrimination laws cannot be overstated. Substantively, they provide legal remedies and a chance to seek justice.” If I were on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday? I would have voted Yes, too.
It would have made me sick. But I would have done it.
What has been missing from the debate, mainly focused on transgender people with foes playing up fears of penises showing up in women’s locker rooms, is the very real discrimination against all people- straight, gay, bisexual and transgender- for not conforming to “rules” about gender expression. It’s about the straight “ bartender who refused to wear makeup at a Reno casino” and ended up losing, the court siding with the casino, ruling she was not unfairly dismissed from her job as much as it's about Susan Stanton losing her job when she announced she would be transitioning.
For me, it's personal- I'm not a petite blond in a bikini. I get called sir on a daily basis. I had a job where I was asked to wear a skirt for client meetings. I interviewed at another and refused because at this small start up software company in the early 90’s, women were not allowed to wear pants. I love getting dressed up but please don’t ask me to wear a dress. It makes me miserable. If you ask me to wear make-up, I’m going to look like a clown.
It's personal because one of my kids struggles with gender identity. I watch his pain and know there is a very real chance he is transgender. Threaten my children's rights and I am no longer sane... throw him under the bus and I'll go out and pick that damn bus up and throw it off the road.
And it's personal because it is a statement about my community. What we are willing to do, and how we are willing to walk in the world.
It is a devastating loss. In 1987, Massachusetts passed a gay and lesbian civil rights bill. Twenty years later, we still have no gender identity protections. The only state in the country with legally recognized gay marriage and no protections for gender expression.
As a community, we need to reframe where we are. It's not about making chicken salad out of chicken shit, which implies making due with what we have. It's about creating a calculated, thoughtful strategy for moving forward, building on what we have. It's about making stone soup. I believe that’s what Congresswoman Baldwin was trying to do. Regardless, I am going to support her because I am unwilling to throw anyone under the bus.
Now we have to move forward. Together.
posted by Sara at 12:59 PM
6 Comments:
well put...i can't believe that Congress is more afraid of the GOP using "drag queens" to scare people (which they do all the time anyway) than of helping voters. It's pathetic. Since Bush stated he would veto, it should have been a strong and inclusive bill since it's symbolic anyway until we get a Dem Pres (and not certain even then).
Barney Frank is an ass, and needs to retire. Many of them do, i think.
very well said Sara
I found your blog from .... actually I don't remember how i got here. But I'm sure glad i did!
This is a great post. It reminds me of when I belonged to an informal lesbian hiking group and we had someone start showing up on the hikes who was transitioning male to female. There were several women in the group who didn't feel she should be "allowed" to join.
It saddened me to see this discrimination in my circle of friends. I pointed out to several how hypocritical it was for us to "ban" someone like her. Where else was she supposed to go?
She eventually stopped coming on the hikes, and I don't know what ever happened to her. But I think of her often when the ENDA discussion begins.
pooky...
So sad to hear about your transwoman acquaintance. Sadder still, lesbian exclusion and hate of transwomen is still the norm.
It bothers me when the GLB crowd demands rights and opportunities that they willingly deny transpeople.
Lesbians can be wicked to bisexual women, too. I don't know about gay men and how bisexual men are treated.
but it's the oppressed oppressing the more oppressed. It's ugly.
and exactly what those in power want us to do- fight amongst ourselves.
"but it's the oppressed oppressing the more oppressed. It's ugly.
and exactly what those in power want us to do- fight amongst ourselves."
That's why it is so critical to stay together. What we have (had) is the moral high ground.
We can't throw it away with whitewashing like "baby steps." It's ALL that separates us from them.
We are not the Donner party. We have no excuse to eat our own.
None.
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