Sen. Kay Hagan Backs Employment Nondiscrimination Act

[William769]

North Carolina senator Kay Hagan announced over the weekend that she will cosponsor federal legislation to bar anti-LGBT employment discrimination.

“I’m announcing today that I will be signing on as a cosponsor to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA),” Hagan, a Democrat, said in a statement released in conjunction with the NC Pride Festival at Duke University. “Discrimination must never be tolerated, and I believe that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential.” (Qnotes has a full report on Hagan’s co-sponsorship here.)

According to the Human Rights Campaign, several North Carolina LGBT advocates met with Hagan last week to discuss ENDA. “We had been told that we were allocated 15 minutes and that it was possible that Senator Hagan would have to cancel at the last minute,” Linda Stroupe, a parent involved with Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), said. “She not only met with us but asked questions and spent almost 45 minutes with us.”

Following the North Carolina legislature’s approval earlier this month of an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment to be decided by voters in May, Hagan said in a statement that she “remains wary of attempts to alter constitutions in the heat of today's charged political environment.” Stroupe said Hagan began the meeting “by telling us how disappointed she was about the actions of the N.C. Senate and House,” according to HRC.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/26/Sen_Kay_Hagan_Backs_Employment_Nondiscrimination_Act/

[DURHAM D]

1. I was surprised and pleased.

Its time for me to call her office and register a "Thank You".

[LonePirate]

2. Shouldn't this be the default Democratic position? How many Democrats do not support ENDA?

I welcome her support but this is another one of those issues that should have been passed well before now.

[DURHAM D]

3. It should be the default position but she is in the south.

That is what makes her position a little bit of a surprise given that southern and red state Dems usually disappoint.

[mwooldri]

6. I'm glad she has taken this stand.

For the most part, Hagan does vote with the main Democratic senators on a party line, amlost as reliably as the other Senator for this state.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. The constitutional amendment will hurt the NC economy...

and Hagan knows it. I'm happy to see she's stepping up in support of ENDA.

Business leaders call gay marriage ban “political overreach”, bad for recruitment (audio)
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2011/09/06/business-leaders-call-gay-marriage-ban-political-overreach-bad-for-recruitment-audio/

" Replacements, Ltd. General Counsel Andrew Spainhour said his leadership team is in disbelief that conservative lawmakers are coming to Raleigh next week not to focus on jobs or the economy, but rather to “single out a minority of its population for public judgment.”

“How can we say we take economic development seriously when we propose an antigay campaign that runs contrary to the employment policies and practices of the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies?” "

The battle is going to be with black and conservative churches:

Black clergy vow: No gay marriage in N.C.
Pastors, conservatives push for referendum
http://thecharlottepost.com/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=News&refno=3945

From a civil rights perspective, it's appalling that some black churches are taking this stance. Tax 'em from here to Kingdom come...NC needs the revenue.

[William769]

5. Thanks for the links.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. You're welcome. I'm trying to keep up with this and especially follow...

the business community speaking out. One thing is certain: Wacko churches will be busing folks to the polls and Dems need to counter with some sort of massive GOTV effort. At least there's hope from this pastor, from, where else? Chapel Hill:

Churches speak up on gay marriage

Pastor Richard Edens of United Church of Chapel Hill has preached against the marriage amendment. He said the topic is likely to remain a recurring theme for the next eight months.

"I think there are a growing number of people who want the Constitution to reflect the inclusiveness represented in the Gospel," Edens said.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/18/1497957/churches-speak-up-on-gay-marriage.html#ixzz1Z6amiiZN

[customerserviceguy]

7. Instead of another law that will simply be ignored

why not incentivize the hiring of the long-term unemployed? You've been out of work at gainful employment for two years, your employer gets a credit equal to the amount of FICA and Medicare taxes paid for you for that long.

The President's current proposal is just a six-month 'shelf' that, if passed, would have the effect of causing employers to put off hiring those who have been out of work for 3-5 months. It does nothing to differentiate between those unemployed a mere half a year versus those who have exhausted their UC benefits.

I'd rather see the Federal goverment do that, than to give me a FICA tax holiday that I don't really need.

[DURHAM D]

8. So your suggestion is to just put GLBT employee issues on a shelf until

you and all other straight folks have been taken care of.

No thanks.

I assume you are aware this is a website for Democrats.

[customerserviceguy]

9. Oh, crap

Reading (and posting) on cold medicines...

Thought this was about discrimination toward the long term unemployed, sorry about that...

Now that I have really read and understand this, I wish to voice my support for Sen. Hagen's bill.

[DURHAM D]

13. Sorry for the late response.

Thank you for your explanation which makes your apology unnecessary but nevertheless appreciated.

[JanMichael]

11. I hope she supports the HUD CDBG and HOME Programs as well.

Hope.

[bluestateguy]

12. For a Southern senator that is pretty courageous

:patriot: