[Commentary] [USA] Marriage momentum can carry ENDA

[Stephanie Stevens]

QNotes, NC, USA


Editor's Note

Marriage momentum can carry ENDA

by Matt Comer, Editor
edi...@goqnotes.com

Published: May 24, 2013 in Editor's Note


In just a few weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hand down
its decision in two landmark cases on marriage equality. The cases,
one challenging Proposition 8 in California and the other challenging
the federal Defense of Marriage Act, mark the first time the high
court has taken on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples. No
matter their decision, it will be historic.

The political climate on marriage and other LGBT equality issues has
shifted vastly since the court first heard oral arguments in the cases
in March.

In just one month, three states —Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota
— approved marriage for same-sex couples. They did so not by order of
a court, but, rather, through a vote of their duly-elected
legislatures. Other states are advancing on the issue, as well.
Illinois stands ready to hear similar proposals. A marriage equality
bill was approved by a Nevada Assembly committee in mid-May. In New
Mexico, where state law does not specifically ban marriage between two
people of the same-sex, city leaders in Santa Fe have taken an
official stand in favor of equality.

Other nations around the globe are moving on this issue. France, our
oldest ally which helped give birth to our own nation, approved
marriage equality in April. In so doing, they became the 14th nation
worldwide to recognize same-sex nuptials.

All around us, the world is changing. Progress once thought impossible
is now a commonplace occurrence. The America of which we’ve all
dreamed is becoming a reality, as we take more steps into our
continuing experiment in democracy, liberty and justice.

With these series of historic advancements on marriage, it would seem
the time was right to also move forward on an issue many in our
community feel has been forgotten.

For nearly 20 consecutive sessions of Congress, the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) has been introduced and stalled.
Transgender people, whose risk of employment insecurity is many times
higher than LGB people, have been pushing for a renewed focus on ENDA
and other employment non-discrimination measures at state and local
levels.

Here in North Carolina, the story is the same. Session after session,
bills to extend employment protections to LGBT public workers go
nowhere. Neither Democratic nor Republican leaders have advanced the
proposal.

I get why marriage is important. I understand why, like straight
couples, gay couples can also benefit. Much more than tax breaks or
other financial or legal benefits, marriage is the fundamental bedrock
upon which we build our lives with the people we love and in which we
create our families and raise our children. Marriage provides
stability to gay families, just as it does to straight families.

But, employment security also provides stability that is just as
important. The ability to work for a fair and livable wage underpins
our ability to care for our families.

Employment protections and marriage equality have more intersecting
commonalities than differences. The two issues are complementary. We
should be pushing as hard for one as we are the other.

This summer, we will know the fate of our future movement on marriage.
The momentum is strong. The positive emotion is palpable. The stunning
successes we’ve seen in moving the conversation forward, in changing
hearts and minds, can be used to create better working environments
for our community.

It is time we widen our focus. Let’s continue our good work on
marriage equality while expending more financial and organizational
resources on employment security for all our citizens, regardless of
sexual orientation and gender identity


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Charlotte, N.C. Copyright 1986-2012.

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