Press Release: Schneider Calls for End to LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace
Posted on June 11, 2012For Immediate Release
Monday, June 11, 2012
Schneider Calls for End to LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace
Rep. Dold Stands with Extreme Minority Opposing Employment Non-Discrimination Act
NORTHBROOK – Small businessman Brad Schneider (IL-10) launched a petition calling on Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees necessary protections from workplace discrimination.
There is currently no federal law protecting LGBT workers from employment discrimination. It is still legal in 29 states to discriminate based on sexual orientation, and, in 34 states, to do so based on gender identity.
“In these difficult economic times, no one should live in fear of losing their job or being denied a promotion because of who they are,” Schneider said in an email to his supporters announcing the petition. “My opponent, Congressman Bob Dold, continues to oppose ENDA and is in favor of the two-tiered system created by the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. We need a strong pro-equal-rights advocate in Congress, and it certainly won’t be Mr. Dold.”
Despite having more than 75% support from the American public, ENDA still has not passed Congress. Congressman Dold publicly opposes ENDA and has said, “I don’t believe I would have voted with the Employee Discrimination Act, I don’t believe they should be given any special rights”. [Source: 890 AM WLS, January 3, 2010]
The petition calling on Congress to pass ENDA can be viewed here: http://schneiderforcongress.
Background:
The vast majority of Americans (79%) support ending employment discrimintation for LGBT workers. [Source: National poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, July 26, 2011, http://www.hrc.org/files/
ENDA has bipartisan support but has yet to be voted on in the 112th Congress. ENDA was reintroduced in the 112th Congress in the Senate by Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) on April 13, 2011 and in the House by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on April 5, 2011.
Rep. Dold has a record of opposing ENDA. During the 2010 Republican Primary Election, Dold filled out a questionnaire from the Illinois Family Institute, a non-profit ministry that advocates socially conservative positions. On their survey, Dold indicated that he opposed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA), which “gives homosexual and transsexual individuals protected class status in the workplace,” according to the Institute. [Source: Illinois Family Institute Voter Guide for Illinois Primary Election, accessed 3/10/10; H.R.3017 & S.1584 - 2009]
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