Action Alert: Pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Dear colleagues, HRC has sent out the following request for religious leaders to endorse this letter to be sent to the House of Representatives in support of the Employment Non-discirimation Act. If you are a clergy person who can add your name and affiliation to this letter, please email james.servino@hrc.org as soon as possible. Thank you for your support of LGT persons!

Rev. Debra W. Haffner
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing

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Interfaith Clergy Letter
Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015)

August 27, 2007

Dear Representative,

As clergy from a broad spectrum of religious traditions, we urge you to support H.R. 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). It is indefensible that millions of hardworking Americans can be fired simply because of who they are. It is morally wrong to deny gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people the ability to earn a livelihood and provide for their families. Congress must act now to ensure that these individuals are judged by their qualifications and job performance, rather than sexual orientation or gender identity.

Many of our diverse religious traditions speak to the importance and sacred nature of work and call in the strongest possible terms for the protection of workers as a matter of justice. As religious leaders, we see the financial and emotional damage done to individuals and families when jobs are lost. While always a difficult experience, no one should have to face it because of something wholly unrelated to the ability to do a job. Nor should gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have to do their jobs while hiding who they are, in constant fear that an overheard phone call or a misplaced pronoun could cost them their livelihood. It is our moral duty to stand up against such arbitrary discrimination.

As people of faith we also know that the free exercise of religion is a precious right. We would not support a bill that did not permit houses of worship, seminaries and other religious organizations to be guided by their tenets and teachings -even those that would exclude gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers-- in making their own employment decisions. This legislation is not an endorsement of any particular viewpoint and it does not interfere with religious beliefs about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. It simply ensures that workers are judged on the basis of their qualifications and performance, rather than prejudice.

As leaders of America's religious communities, we urge Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 2015) and ensure that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have an equal opportunity to earn a living and provide for their families.