Date: Wed, 17 Jul 96 18:07:22 EST From: "Phil Attey" Subject: Birch Testifies On Need for Employment NonDiscrimination Act ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: communications@hrcusa.org WWW: http://www.hrcusa.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 17, 1996 JOB DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION LEGAL IN 41 STATES Birch Testifies On Need For Employment Non-Discrimination Act GO TO HRC'S ONLINE ACTION CENTER FOR PHOTOS FROM THE HEARING, THE FULL TEXT OF BIRCH'S TESTIMONY AND TO SEND YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MESSAGES ON THIS ISSUE. http://www.hrcusa.org WASHINGTON -- Americans who are fired from their jobs simply because of their sexual orientation are not protected by federal law, the head of the largest national lesbian and gay political organization told Congress today. "Today, it is still perfectly legal under federal law to fire a person simply because he or she is gay, lesbian or bisexual," said Elizabeth Birch, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign. "Let that sink in for a moment because it is reminiscent of other cruel, shameful moments in American history." Birch testified at a historic hearing before the House Small Business subcommittee on government programs to consider the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA, which has broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, would make it illegal to discriminate in hiring, firing, promoting or compensating workers based on sexual orientation. "This kind of discrimination happens in every region of the country," Birch said. "It is un-American. It is un-businesslike. And it is wrong. But it remains sanctioned by federal law, or rather, by the absence of any law prohibiting it." Birch cited national polls showing that more and more Americans believe this kind of discrimination is wrong. "In May of this year, a Newsweek poll found that 84 percent of Americans support equal rights in employment for gay and lesbian people," she testified. "More recently, in June, an Associated Press poll found 85 percent favor this kind of legislation." Corporate America has recognized this fact and has adopted non-discrimination policies that cover sexual orientation, Birch said. She cited a recent HRC report that found slightly more than half of the Fortune 500 companies have such policies. "Despite the overwhelming public support for the principles behind ENDA, there are political groups here in Washington that oppose it," she added. "They have attacked this simple piece of popular legislation in the same way that they have vilified gay and lesbian Americans -- with naked hostility, fabrications and distortions." ENDA would not apply to religious organizations, small businesses or the military, and it would not require employers to provide equal benefits to the domestic partners of employees. Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor and a consultant to HRC, testified that passing ENDA would be a "profoundly moral response" to the discrimination that currently exists in America. Feldblum said a majority of Americans reject the view of ENDA opponents that gay people should be punished for being honest about their lives. "The American majority is stating a different moral vision for society," she testified. "Under this vision, people are to be judged on their merits and not on the basis of a characteristic that has no relevance to their ability to perform their jobs. Under this vision, gay people are to be protected from punishment and harassment based solely on their decision to respond honestly to their given sexual orientation." - 30 -