Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Chris Shays, R-Conn., introduced bipartisan legislation today that would clarify existing law to ensure full enforcement of prohibitions against anti-gay discrimination in the federal workforce



Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji in the 1960's.

Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Chris Shays, R-Conn., introduced bipartisan legislation today that would clarify existing law to ensure full enforcement of prohibitions against anti-gay discrimination in the federal workforce

NEW BILL MAKES CLEAR THAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAVE PROTECTION FROM ANTI-GAY DISCRIMINATION

‘President Bush and members of Congress should fight for the enforcement of policies they already support,’ said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON — Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Chris Shays, R-Conn., introduced bipartisan legislation today that would clarify existing law to ensure full enforcement of prohibitions against anti-gay discrimination in the federal workforce. This legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Mark Foley, R-Fla.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.; Danny Davis, D-Ill.; and Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz.; is supported by the Human Rights Campaign, which has been leading an effort to halt a rollback of protections in existence since the Carter administration.

“President Bush and members of Congress should fight for the enforcement of policies they already support,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Although no law has changed, a rogue appointee is threatening to take away rights that have existed for nearly three decades. We laud Representatives Shays, Waxman and their colleagues for their efforts to ensure there’s no rollback in rights for federal employees.”

Special Counsel Scott Bloch, who one of the federal agencies responsible for investigating and settling claims of workplace discrimination, recently indicated at a Senate hearing that he has no intention of investigating or acting on certain claims of sexual orientation discrimination from federal employees.

In April 2004, the White House released the following statement: “Longstanding federal policy prohibits discrimination against federal employees based on sexual orientation. … President Bush expects federal agencies to enforce this policy and to ensure that all federal employees are protected from unfair discrimination at work.”

For more than two decades, a federal statute, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, has been interpreted to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace for federal employees. This legislation would clarify the protections of that law by explicitly making discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation a prohibited personnel practice under the act.

“This legislation would end Scott Bloch’s bogus assertions that federal employees aren’t free to enjoy the same non-discrimination protections they have enjoyed for over 25 years. We call on the Congress to quickly pass this bipartisan bill to prevent a further deterioration of non-discrimination protections in the federal workforce and work to enact legislation that protects the entire American workforce from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” added Solmonese.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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June 16, 2005: Special Events Philip Weiss, PCV murder writer, speaks in Baltimore June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 NPCA to hold Virtual Leaders Forum on July 29 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 6, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Kinky Friedman will "sign anything except bad legislation" 6 Jun Niels Marquardt Makes Chimpanzee Protection a Priority 6 Jun Laurence Leamer needs approval for "Today" appearance 6 Jun Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is son of RPCVs 6 Jun Anthony Sandberg runs Berkeley sailing school 5 Jun Amy Smith field-tests sugarcane charcoal 5 Jun Mary Johnson organizes workshop on genocide 3 Jun Jonathan Lash in 100 most Influential Business Leaders 3 Jun Hastert jump-starts Chris Shays' Campaign 3 Jun John Coyne says 41 RPCVs applied for scholarships 3 Jun James Rupert writes on bombing in Kandahar mosque 1 Jun John McCain says to expand opportunities for service 1 Jun Jay Rockefeller's relationships with Japanese go way back 1 Jun Anat Shenker met her husband during service in Honduras 31 May Ryan Clancy punished without hearing for visiting Iraq 30 May Melissa Mosvick remembered as a fallen American hero 29 May Kurt Carlson played basketball against Togo's national team 29 May Helen Thomas's favorite president remains JFK 24 May

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