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Working to Pass a Fully Inclusive ENDA
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September 9, 2009
9 weeks for equality
With ENDA now introduced in both the House and the Senate, it is more important than ever that we take action and educate Congress about the need to pass a transgender-inclusive ENDA. We hope that you will take action on at least three of our suggestions ... and all of them if you can. We'll include how-to information for each one.
 
Let's make this a summer for transgender equality!

THIS WEEK
Build relationships: Follow up on your contacts with members of Congress to build relationships
 
You've gone and visited your member of Congress, called or written expressing your support for ENDA and urging them to do the same. What next? The way to make truly meaningful impact with members of Congress and other policymakers is to build on that relationship. Having ongoing contact lets them know that you are truly concerned about this issue and dedicated to making a real difference. It can also put a human face on our cause.
 
Here are some suggestions:
  • Be sure to send a thank you note after a visit with your member of Congress or a staff member in his/her office. There's a sample letter in Make Your Voice Heard, NCTE's resource on educating members of Congress about transgender issues. (see page 20).
  • Keep an eye on the list of co-sponsors for ENDA and notice if your member of Congress has been added to the list. If so, send them a note thanking them for their support. You can find the co-sponsors by going to Thomas, the Library of Congress site, and searching by bill numbers HR 3017 and S 1584.
  • If your member of Congress is undecided about ENDA, follow up with a staff member in the office who has ENDA on her/his portfolio. Ask if the Senator or Representative needs any additional information in order to make a decision to support this legislation. NCTE can help you answer any questions they may have.
  • Invite your member of Congress to a transgender event, such as a conference or social event. You can ask your member of Congress to speak at a Day of Remembrance vigil or gathering. This reminds them that the community is organized and active and brings some of the realities of transgender lives into focus for them. The sooner before the event that you ask, the greater your chance of getting a member of Congress to attend.
  • After the vote on ENDA takes place, write or call your member of Congress and express your thanks or disappointment with the way that s/he voted. This provides immediate feedback to them and helps lay the groundwork for the next bill that will come along.
You should contact your member of Congress often enough to communicate that you are a concerned citizen and active in this process, but not so much that you are disruptive to their work in any way.
 
Moving equality forward really is about building relationships.
 
Need more information about ENDA? Read on ...
COMING UP
Here's the full list of action items for a summer of movement towards equality:
  1. Reach your members of Congress: Make an appointment TODAY to visit your Representative and Senators in August
  2. Spread the word: Sign the ENDA petition and get the word out to your friends by phone, email, twitter etc. to do the same; gather signatures at the local farmers' market, street fair, the student union etc. We'll send you more details next week.
  3. Educate the public: Write a letter-to-the-editor, write a blog or ask local paper to write an editorial in favor of ENDA
  4. Communicate the reasons: Write letters to your members of Congress or, better yet, host a letter-writing party and invite your friends, family, support group, etc.
  5. Gather support: Collect letters of support from local organizations, clubs, unions, churches, etc that you belong to and forward them to your members of Congress
  6. Be visible: Attend a town hall meeting or other in district gathering with your members of Congress
  7. Make the work possible: Host a fundraising party for your favorite organization working on ENDA, either in person or virtually, such as donating to a Facebook cause.
  8. Build relationships: Follow up on your contacts with members of Congress to build relationships
  9. Look ahead: Explore what the next steps are as together we move transgender equality forward.
About NCTE

The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people. By empowering transgender people and our allies to educate and influence policymakers and others, NCTE facilitates a strong and clear voice for transgender equality in our nation's capital and around the country. The National Center for Transgender Equality is a 501(c)3 organization.