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A quick history of the latest ENDA saga.
-ENDA is once again introduced into Congress by Barney Frank, openly gay congressman. Frank declares that passage of ENDA is impossible while it includes transgender protections. Note that the bill stands little chance of making it past the Senate and no chance of making it past Bush's desk.
-trans activists and several GLBT rights groups EXPLODE, and rightfully so. The Human Rights Commission flip-flops on an earlier commitment to "not support any bill that does not include transgender protections". Nancy Pelosi, in standard Democratic fashion, promises to fast-track a trans-inclusive bill "when we have the votes".
-HRC, by all accounts, continues to support the sexual-orientation-only bill while professing support for the gender-inclusive version. Way to grow a spine. Donna Rose, the only trans member of HRC, resigns in protest.
-There is currently an amendment (the Baldwin amendment) under consideration to force transgender protections back into the bill, but it includes far more wide-ranging exemptions for 'religious' reasons. Those exemptions are worded in such a way as they could be seen to include any organization with even the most tenuous of religious connections.
Over all, this whole debate seems to me like an exercise in how willing politicians are to fight for what's right as opposed to what will pass, even when it's a near-certainty that it won't pass.
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