Freedom to Work

Freedom to Work Launches “We Can’t Wait” Campaign With $100K + Donations

tico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:42:46 +0000

Washington Post covers Freedom to Work’s “We Can’t Wait” Campaign to persuade President Barack Obama to fulfill his campaign promise and sign an LGBT Executive Order banning workplace discrimination at companies that profit from taxpayer money. Major donors pledge more than $100,000.00 in one day to support Freedom to Work’s campaign. Washington Post coverage here.

Transgender Breakthrough: EEOC Ruling that Gender-Identity Discrimination is Covered by Title VII is a ‘Sea Change’ That Opens the Doors to Employment Protection for Transgender Americans

tico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:41:36 +0000

An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person’s gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20, 2012 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Metro Weekly Coverage

SIGN IT!

tico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:32:25 +0000

Join more than 115,000 Americans in signing the Freedom to Work petition to President Barack Obama urging him to fulfill the campaign promise he made to sign an executive policy giving LGBT Americans the freedom to work for federal contractors without harassment or discrimination.

Sign the petition

American Airlines endorses ENDA, which will protect the freedom to work for LGBT Americans.

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:10:36 +0000

American Airlines

This summer, American Airlines officially endorsed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Their letter states: “On behalf of our 80,000 employees, American Airlines is proud to express our strong support for S. 811 and H.R. 1397, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would extend basic job protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. We are proud to have been the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits, first to implement both sexual orientation and gender identity in our workplace non-discrimination policies, and first to have a recognized LGBT employee resource group – GLEAM.”

“Our endorsement of ENDA is consistent with our longstanding ‘Statement of Equal Opportunity.’ The principles fostered by ENDA are consistent with our corporate principles in treating all employees with fairness and respect.”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi endorses Executive Order against LGBT job discrimination.

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:00:48 +0000

Nancy Pelosi

When Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade asked Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi whether she supports President Obama signing an executive order providing job protections at federal contractors based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Pelosi replied, “Yes, and yes. I think it is all long overdue.”

The Blade also quoted Tico Almeida of Freedom to Work, who said: “Her endorsement of the ENDA Executive Order for federal contractors builds momentum for this common sense policy that will save money for the U.S. taxpayers who should not have to subsidize discrimination.”

Bishop Gene Robinson: employees should be judged on performance, not sexual orientation or gender identity.

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:43:23 +0000

Bishop Robinson

Bishop Robinson writes in the Huffington Post about Gerri Cannon, a transgender woman he knows from his home state of New Hampshire. Robinson explains how Gerri’s freedom to work is constantly at risk: “She is surrounded by a work environment that is largely hostile to the fact that she once lived her life as a man but now finds a fulfilling life as the woman she was created to be. She lives in fear–not only of the violence so prevalent against transgender people (the murder rate for transgender people is astronomically high), but also the constant threat of losing her job because of her gender identity.”

Senator Tom Harkin endorses ENDA Executive Order for federal contractors.

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:37:25 +0000

Sen. Tom Harkin

Chris Johnson of the Washington Blade reports that Sen. Tom Harkin, the Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, said: “I would strongly support an executive order from President Obama that makes clear government contractors cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, just as President Roosevelt did seventy years ago when he made clear discrimination based on race, color, creed or national origin was impermissible. Every American deserves equal treatment on the job, period.”

The Blade’s coverage quoted Tico Almeida of Freedom to Work, who noted: “Once the executive order is in place, it will be enforced by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who is committed to LGBT civil rights and has placed a strong priority on enforcing workplace protections.”

Andre Cooley and ACLU win battle against workplace discrimination.

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:26:24 +0000

Andre Cooley

Andre Cooley was fired from his job only because he is gay. But with the help of the lawyers at the ACLU, he fought for the freedom to work without discrimination and he was reinstated as a corrections officer in the state of Mississippi.

“I am looking forward to returning to a job that I loved in the sheriff’s department,” Cooley said. “I’m very happy that the sheriff’s department has clarified in writing that they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation. Everyone should be judged by their ability to do the job, not by their sexual orientation.”

: Andre Cooley and attorney Josh Block from the ACLU tell of Cooley’s legal victory

Who Cares About LGBT Workers?

tico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:01:44 +0000

Law Professor Darren Hutchinson writes in the Huffington Post: “Although LGBT workers remain vulnerable to discrimination across the nation, ENDA has not received much attention from the media and from many groups that advocate for LGBT rights. Instead, same-sex marriage and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell have occupied most of the recent headlines and have dominated the contemporary advocacy of many LGBT social movement organizations.”

He later argues: “Based on the most recent research and the unprotected status of LGBT workers in most states, the passage of ENDA should receive far more attention from the media and from LGBT social movement organizations.”

We agree. That’s why Freedom to Work is building a Speakers Bureau to raise the national profile of LGBT workplace issues. We believe in the power of personal stories to change hearts and minds and grow support for workplace equality and ENDA. We’re compiling the experiences of supporters across the country to help educate the American public about why LGBT Americans need the basic workplace protections that ENDA provides.