Fairness needed for all our children
As a parent, I look forward to seeing what my children will grow up to be. I raised my son as a proud Arkansan and took him to church at St. James United Methodist Church, just a mile from our home. After graduating from historic Central High School, he moved away to attend Northwestern University near Chicago. This summer, I have watched with pride as my son flourished while working at an internship in Washington, D.C. When my husband and I visit him, he exudes happiness and joy. As he nears the end of college, I am so excited to think of the future that awaits him. He is an exceptionally talented young man: a genuine people person who is passionate about improving the lives of others.
Yet one thing in particular scares me, and it’s frankly not something I thought I’d even have to think about in 2013: Arkansas law doesn’t expressly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and my son is gay. He could get fired from his dream job because of who he is. It breaks my heart to think that our laws make it risky for my son to come home and pursue a career in his home state.
Arkansas is one of many states that doesn’t provide workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Until I did some research and found this out, I was just like the nine in 10 Americans who mistakenly believe that there’s already a federal law banning discrimination against LGBT people. I was wrong.
Fortunately, there is a bill currently under consideration in Congress that would rectify this glaring omission: the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA. This bill adds sexual orientation and gender identity alongside existing federal workplace protections such as those for race, religion, gender, and disability. I firmly believe that in the workplace, individuals deserve to be judged on their merits and talents.
The best part is that there is a realistic shot of Congress passing ENDA this year, 19 years after it was first introduced. I know what you’re thinking. Congress? Do they pass anything any more? With all the partisan bickering, you might be thinking I’m a hopeless optimist. But the fact is, for all its failings, Congress is on the cusp of passing ENDA. Believe it or not, ENDA is one of the most popular bills in D.C. right now because of the broad support it enjoys. We just need the backing of a few more key people, including our family friend Sen. Mark Pryor. I urge the good senator to join with others such as Republican senators Mark Kirk (Illinois), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Orrin Hatch (Utah) who back ENDA.
ENDA is something the American people support by huge margins: 70 percent of Republicans, 77 percent of observant Christians, and 72 percent of Deep South residents are for it, according to information provided by the Human Rights Campaign. Here in Arkansas, nearly 65 percent of residents support it.
Even businesses leaders recognize the value of ENDA. They know it’s good for their bottom line. Nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies already have sexual orientation non-discrimination policies; while 57 percent have gender identity non-discrimination policies.
Regardless of your opinion on marriage for same-sex couples, this is not a divisive issue. Americans across the country share the basic value that everyone should have the opportunity to get and keep a job and provide for themselves and their families. Why should that not be true for my son just because he is gay?