Queer Nation to HRC: Ditch ENDA

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2014

CONTACT:
Queer Nation: news@queernationny.org

LGBT Activists Laud Human Rights Campaign for Endorsing Comprehensive Civil Rights Law

Queer Nation Urges HRC to Ditch ENDA Immediately

New York, NY (July 9, 2014) — Queer Nation commended the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for endorsing a comprehensive federal civil rights law that will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people the rights and protections that are afforded to every American.

“We are equal in every way, and our law must recognize that, as HRC has done,” said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation. “We call on every lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight person to support and fight for this goal. And we call on all of our community groups and all of our allies to do the same.”

“This may be a longer fight, but we will win it, and when we have won we will be equal under the law—nothing more, nothing less,” Kidd added.

Queer Nation also called on HRC to drop its support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which only bars employment discrimination and has a sweeping religious exemption that would allow religiously affiliated organizations to continue to discriminate against LGBT people. 

A comprehensive law will bar discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit, public accommodations, and federally funded programs.

“A comprehensive federal civil rights law will give lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people all the protections in ENDA and much more,” Kidd said. “ENDA has been rejected by our leading community groups. ENDA keeps us as second-class citizens, and it has no place in our movement." 

Queer Nation is a direct action group dedicated to ending discrimination, violence, and repression against the LGBT community.