Date: Thu, 19 Jan 1995 16:20:05 -0500 [ Send all responses to jmcnamar@WILLAMETTE.EDU only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] PRESS RELEASE 15 January 1995 From: Phyllis Randolph Frye, Attorney Executive Director of the International Conference of Transgender Law and Employment Policy, Inc. (ICTLEP) 5707 Firenza Street Houston, TX 77035-5515 USA 713/723-8368 fax-1800 Internet Contact: JoAnna McNamara address jmcnamar@willamette.edu RE: MAJOR GAY GROUP STRONGLY URGES INCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER IN GAY, lESBIAN AND BISEXUAL LEGISLATION The National Lesbian and Gay Law Association today adopted a resolution that recognized the history of oppression that transgenders have received at the hands of the same people who oppress lesbian, gay and bisexual people. With a unanimous vote, NLGLA voted to strongly urge (1) all persons, organizations and coalitions consider and advance transgendered persons in their programs and deliberations, (2) inclusion of the transgendered in the Employment Non- Discrimination Act, and (3) inclusion of transgendered persons in statutes, ordinances and regulations that positively affect lesbians, gays and bisexuals and other oppressed minorities. RESOLUTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL LESBIAN AND GAY LAW ASSOCIATION URGING THE INCLUSION OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY INTO THE EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT AND OTHER STATUTES, ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS ALONG WITH LESBIANS, GAYS AND BISEXUALS 1. WHEREAS the transgendered have been legally defined in current favorable legislation to include those persons "having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one's biological maleness or femaleness"; and 2. WHEREAS the history of oppression of the transgendered is similar to the oppression suffered by homosexuals and bisexuals, often by the same oppressors and often in a fashion that continues to pit transgenders and homosexuals and bisexuals against each other; and 3. WHEREAS the oppression in the area of employment of the transgendered is likewise similar to the oppression suffered by homosexuals and bisexuals and often by the same oppressors; and 4. WHEREAS lesbians, gays and bisexuals seek protection under the term of "sexual orientation" and transgenders seek protection under the term of "gender identification" and the four communities may seek protection under the combined term of "sexual or gender orientation"; and 5. WHEREAS the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 has excluded the transgendered from federal job protection; and 6. WHEREAS the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association recognizes the need for all sexual and gender minorities to have protection of employment; therefore BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, through its Board of Directors meeting on the 15th day of January 1995, (1) strongly urges all persons, organizations and coalitions to consider and advance the rights of transgendered persons in all their programs and deliberations, and (2) strongly urges Members of Congress to include the transgendered in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 1994 (ENDA) and any successor or amended bills, and (3) strongly urges members of state and local legislative and regulatory bodies to include transgendered persons in all statutes, ordinances and regulations that also or already positively affect or protect lesbian, gay and bisexual people, and other oppressed minorities.