NCLR is committed to ending discrimination for all LGBT individuals, which is why we have long supported federal legislation designed to end both state-sanctioned discrimination as well as discrimination by private entities and individuals. Today, more than ever before, federal bills provide a nationwide opportunity to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Several such bills are both much-needed and long overdue, including the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a federal hate crimes act that covers both sexual orientation and gender identity, an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and more. We also support a repeal of discriminatory federal laws, such as the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy and the anti-LGBT federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), among others.
news & opinion
Statement
Coalition Urges Congress to Vote on Federal Legislation for Workplace in Honor of First Official Harvey Milk Day
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act Necessary and Overdue for Workers
05.17.10—A coalition of national, state and local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups are calling on Congress to vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009 (ENDA), H.R. 3017 without further delay. This essential legislation would provide clear federal protection against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Statement
LGBT and Allied Groups Call on Congress to Pass ENDA Now
More than 200 Organizations Demand Immediate Action
04.21.10—Today, the nation’s leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations, along with allies in the faith, labor and civil rights communities, issued the following statement to members of the United States Congress: “Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act NOW.”
Statement
NCLR Praises President Obama's Order Extending LGBT Hospital Visitation Rights
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
4.15.10—Today President Barack Obama ordered the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in hospital visitation. The new rule will grant hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners, and making it easier for LGBT people to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners.
Opinion
Why LGBT People Benefit from Health Care Reform
NLCR's blog: Out for Justice
03.24.10—This week’s passage of historic health care legislation will improve the lives of millions of Americans, including many people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. To quote President Obama, “This isn’t radical reform, but it is major reform,” and while LGBT anti-discrimination provisions were not included in the final bill, the passage of health care reform is a momentous achievement that will save lives and will improve access to much-needed health care.
Statement
NCLR Urges President Obama to Stop Defending DOMA
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
01.29.10—Today, the Department of Justice once again filed a brief defending the so called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in Gill v. Office of Personnel Development, a federal lawsuit challenging Section 3 of DOMA, which excludes same-sex couples from all federal benefits and protections given to heterosexual married couples.
Statement
NCLR Demands Immediate Suspension of Discharges Until Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
01.28.10—Last night, in his first State of the Union address, President Barack Obama promised to work with Congress to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the discriminatory policy banning gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving openly in the military
updates from the capitol
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
On August 5, 2009, Senator Jeff Merkley (OR-D) joined by Senators Susan Collins (ME-R), Olympia Snowe (ME-R), and Edward M. Kennedy (MA-D) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in an important show of bipartisan support. This bill, which would extend existing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination to protect people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, is much needed and long overdue.
An inclusive bill was reintroduced in the House on June 24, 2009. The bill was introduced in the House by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) and include IIeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Michael Castle (R-DE), George Miller (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Conyers (D-MI), Todd Platts (R-PA), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), and Leonard Lance (R-NJ).
Federal Hate Crimes Bill
In the 111th Congress, Rep. John Conyers introduced the bill in the House of Representatives on April 2, 2009 and Sen. Kennedy introduced a Senate version on April 28, 2009. In the same month, the House of Representatives voted 249 to 175 to add the Hate Crimes Bill, also known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to the 2010 DoD Authorization bill. The bill was then referred to the Senate Judiciary committee, which held a hearing on June 25 and heard testimony from Attorney Genderal Eric Holder on the need to expand the definition of federal hate crimes to cover attacks based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.
On July 15, 2009, the Senate echoed the House’s decision by passing S.909, which added the Matthew Shepard Act as an amendment in the DoD Authoriization bill. The Senate approved the full defense bill on July 23.
The House and the Senate versions reconciled their versions of the DoD bill in a conference report and renamed the hate crimes provision “The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act” to honor another victim of a hate crime, James Byrd, Jr.
On October 8, 2009 the House of Representatives voted on the conference report on the DoD Authorization bill and passed at 281–146. The Senate approved the report, 68-29, on October 22, 2009 and on October 28, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
On September 15, 2009, the Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO). The bill had 87 co-sponsors.
The bill would repeal both sections 2 and 3 of DOMA. Section 2 creates an exception to the full faith and credit clause for married same-sex couples. The Respect for Marriage Act would eliminate that provision, but it would leave each state free to decide whether to recognize marriages of same-sex couples from other states. Section 3 excludes same-sex spouses from all federal benefits and protections, including Social Security survivor benefits, the right to file joint taxes, and the right to petition for permanent residence for a foreign spouse. The Respect for Marriage Act would require that the federal government treat all married couples equally.