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Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Deborah Pryce (R-OH), along with 67 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced H.R. 2015, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of 2007. The bill would extend fair employment practices to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. Currently, it's legal in 33 states to fire or refuse to hire someone based on their sexual orientation. ENDA seeks to end this type of discrimination. The Senate is expected to introduce a companion bill soon.
ASHA has a long-standing policy of promoting diversity and inclusion in the speech-language pathology and audiology professions. "We feel strongly that everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender or sexual orientation, should be given the opportunity to work in an environment free from discrimination and bias," ASHA President Dr. Noma Anderson declared.
ENDA is one of the issues in ASHA's 2007 Public Policy Agenda. For further information about this legislation, contact Stefanie Reeves, Director of Political Advocacy, by e-mail at sreeves@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4452.
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