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Rep. Fattah Battles Discrimination Against Lesbians, Gays in Workplace and Military

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 June 2009, 15:24 CDT

WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a longtime supporter of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) civil rights, is advocating for two new Congressional initiatives that challenge discrimination against homosexuals in employment and in the military.

Rep. Fattah and 76 colleagues in the House of Representatives sent a letter to President Obama Monday calling for an immediate end to enforcement of the Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) rule that bars gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The letter, originated by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), calls DADT a "failed" policy that is harmful to the nation's security as well as being unfair to gays and lesbians.

In addition, Rep. Fattah is an original co-sponsor of the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act, known as ENDA, which will be introduced in the House on Wednesday June 24.

"Our nation's core principles, as well as an overwhelming majority of the American people, support full and equal rights for all our citizens, including those who are lesbian and gay," Fattah said. "For far too long the law and administrative practice have discriminated against LGBT Americans, and it is way past the time to end this discrimination."

"I am pleased to join with my colleagues in the Congress to call for an end to the wrong-headed 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' policy that restricts patriotic gays and lesbians from military service, and to legislate an end to employment discrimination through ENDA," he said.

The primary sponsors of the ENDA bill are Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). A similar version of the bill passed the House in the previous session of Congress.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

Source: PR Newswire

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