Senate Hears from First Transgender Witness on Employment Non-Discrimination Act
TPOCC Founder and NBJC Board Member Kylar Broadus Testifies
Washington,
D.C. – June 13, 2012 – Yesterday, history was made when the Senate
heard testimony from a transgender witness for the first time. In a
hearing dedicated to highlighting workplace discrimination experienced
by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, Kylar Broadus,
an African American transgender man, recounted how he was harassed
while working at a major financial institution and emphasized the
importance of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
Broadus is the Founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), a national social justice organization that promotes the interests of trans people of color as well as a Board Member and former Board Chair of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a national civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBT people.
Broadus is the Founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), a national social justice organization that promotes the interests of trans people of color as well as a Board Member and former Board Chair of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a national civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBT people.
“There
are many more people like me that are not employed as a result of just
being who they are,” said Broadus during his testimony. “It’s extremely important that this bill be passed to protect workers like me.”
It
is still legal in 29 states to discriminate based on sexual orientation
and in 37 states to do so based on gender identity and expression. According
to the Williams Institute, “17 percent reported being fired because of
their sexual orientation, 13 percent reported being denied a promotion
of receiving a negative job evaluation, and 20 percent reported being
harassed verbally or in writing on the job” because they are gay or
transgender. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA) would extend employment protections based on sexual orientation
and gender identity.
“To
have a trans person of color shed light on the challenges faced by
transgender Americans who simply want the same chance at earning a
living and providing for themselves was monumental,” says Sharon
Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “This was a historic
moment in the Senate and for our nation as a whole.”
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The
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization
dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT) people. NBJC’s mission is to eradicate racism and homophobia.
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