3/2: ENDA Now: Fighting for LGBTQ Justice in the Workplace Nationally

Seattle OUT Protest presents an interactive forum on ENDA – the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act

ENDA Now:
Fighting for LGBTQ Justice in the Workplace Nationally

Tuesday, March 2, 7:00 pm
Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Avenue, Room TBA

Featuring:

Marsha Botzer is co-chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. She has served on the board of Seattle’s Pride Foundation, is a founding member of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, and is a co-chair of the Seattle chapter of the Safe Schools Coalition. Marsha is a Founding Member of Equal Rights Washington and serves on the boards of Equal Rights Washington and the Equal Rights Washington Education Fund. She founded Seattle's Ingersoll Gender Center and continues to support the Center's work.

Mike Andrew is Secretary-Treasurer of Pride At Work, Martin Luther King County Chapter. Pride At Work is an LGBT labor organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO, but including members of Change to Win and independent unions. He is also a member of the Executive Board of the Martin Luther King County Labor Council and Washington State Jobs with Justice, a workers' rights coalition. He is a Staff Writer at Seattle Gay News and a member of the National Writers Union.

Marcy Johnsen is a board member and former co-chair of the national Service Employees International Union Lavender Caucus. A registered nurse, she recently retired from the Department of Social and Health Services after 35 years of caring for people with developmental disabilities and today works for SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

Su Docekal is a member of Seattle OUTprotest Coalition and the Queer Action Coordinator for the Freedom Socialist Party. She was one of the first women in the Sheet Metal Workers Union apprenticeship program and co-founded the community-based Freedom Day Committee, which sponsored Seattle’s pride marches for twenty years.

Sarah Henderson

Moderated by Kaijson Nolimar

Discuss planning for future grassroots action to pass ENDA.

Agenda
- Introduction by host and moderator (5 minutes)
- Panelists present (30 minutes)
- Q & A and discussion (30 minutes)
- Action Items in small groups: each table will discuss possible action plans to be presented (15 minutes)
- Small groups report back to the entire group and discuss (30 minutes)
- Final Announcements

RSVP on Facebook and share with your friends!

ENDA expands the protections of Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Federal employees currently have no statutory protections against sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination. Only 12 states have laws forbidding both sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination on the job. In 29 states, it is legal to be fired or not hired for being gay or lesbian. In 38 states, it is legal to be fired or not hired for being transgender. Even in states like Washington that have such laws, ENDA would benefit LGBTQ workers, because it would allow the federal Justice Department to investigate and prosecute cases of discrimination.

Seattle OUT Protest is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to fighting for equality for the LGBTQ communities. It was formed by young LGBTQ activists to protest notorious homophobe Fred Phelps’ visit to Seattle in June 2009. Seattle OUT Protest then organized the Seattle LGBTQ Equality Weekend, October 10 and 11, and the Referendum 71 Victory Rally on November 14, 2009.

Become a fan of Seattle OUT Protest on Facebook!

Endorsed by the Martin Luther King County Labor Council, Pride at Work, UW Students Organizing for LGBTQ Equality, and the International Socialist Organization.

To endorse this event or for more information, email info@seattleoutprotest.org or call 206.612.6139.