FCNL and Faith Organizations Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Jul 15, 2010

April 19, 2010

Dear Representative,

On behalf of our organizations, representing a diverse group of faith traditions and religious beliefs, we urge you to support H.R. 3017, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). As a nation, we cannot tolerate arbitrary discrimination against millions of Americans just because of who they are. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people should be able to earn a living, provide for their families and contribute to our society without fear. ENDA is a measured, common sense solution that will ensure workers are judged on their merits, not sexual orientation or gender identity. We call on you to pass this important legislation without delay.

Many of our sacred texts speak to the importance and sacred nature of work - an opportunity to be co-creators with God - and demand in the strongest possible terms the protection of all workers as a matter of justice. Our faith leaders and congregations grapple with the difficulties of lost jobs every day, particularly in these difficult economic times. It is indefensible that, while sharing every American's concerns about the health of our economy, LGBT workers must also fear job security because of prejudice.

At the same time, as religious denominations and faith groups, we deeply value our guarantee to the freedoms of faith and conscience under the First Amendment. ENDA broadly exempts from its scope any religious organization, thereby ensuring that religious institutions will not be compelled to violate the religious precepts on which they are founded, whether or not we may agree with those precepts. In so doing, ENDA respects the protections for religious institutions afforded by the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 while ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are protected from baseless discrimination in the workplace.

We urge Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017) and ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have an equal opportunity to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families.


Sincerely,

African American Ministers in Action
Alliance of Baptists
American Conference of Cantors
American Friends Service Committee
American Jewish Committee
Anti-Defamation League
B'nai B'rith International
Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests
Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-LA)
DignityUSA
Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ)
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Fortunate Families
Interfaith Alliance
Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Jewish Women International
Metropolitan Community Churches
Muslim Advocates
Muslims for Progressive Values
National Black Justice Coalition
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
Rabbinical Assembly
Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International
Sikh Council on Religion and Education, SCORE
Sisters of Mercy in the Americas, Institute Justice Team
The Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Episcopal Church
The Sikh Coalition
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ, Wider Church Ministries
United Church of Christ, Office for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Women of Reform Judaism