Members Of Congress Pressed To Sign Gender Pledge

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Members of Congress are being asked to sign pledges they will not discriminate in employment practices based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

For the past several years, the largest gay rights group in the US, Human Rights Campaign, has asked members of Congress to sign statements prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, but this is the first time that gender identity and expression have been included in a single statement. HRC is working with the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition to secure the signatures.

"This statement is an important step forward for HRC as we work for equality for our entire community," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.

"It is also an opportunity for members of Congress to follow the lead of some of the top Fortune 500 corporations in America, including Eastman Kodak Co., IBM, Intel Corp., Nike Inc. and Xerox Corp., who have already implemented policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in their workplaces."

HRC has already secured signatures from 304 current members of Congress, including 93 Republicans, on a statement affirming that they do not discriminate based on sexual orientation in employment practices for their personal congressional offices.