Capitol Hill Protest Part of Week-Long Effort to Hold Democratic Leaders in the House and Senate Accountable for Promised Vote 
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ­ GetEQUAL, a new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) direct action organization, announced today that they will hold an emergency picket on Capitol Hill Thursday, May 20th, 2010 to demand that Democratic Congressional Leaders in the House and Senate live up to their promise to schedule a vote this legislative year on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Legislative action on the bill has already fallen victim to numerous postponements surrounded by a lot of rhetoric, without any real action. The legislation has yet to be scheduled for a floor vote in either the House or the Senate and according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer¹s legislative calendar, less than 45 full voting days remain before Congress adjourns for the mid-term elections nearly six months from now in November. Thursday's GetEQUAL protest, to be held at the corner of Independence Ave. SE and 1st St SE (by the Library of Congress), is the latest in a series of actions the grassroots LGBT organization has taken this week to push for a vote to be scheduled now on ENDA. 
 
"We've heard all we can stand to hear from leaders in Congress, they promised a vote this calendar year and we expect them to honor their word," said Robin McGehee, co-founder of GetEQUAL. "As the window continues to slowly close on available legislative calendar dates to vote on ENDA in the House and in the Senate, we will continue to hold Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid accountable for the direct promise they made to the LGBT community. Our community has done the work to lobby and educate members of Congress on the need for a fully inclusive ENDA and now is the time to stop the talking and start the voting." 
 
WHAT: Emergency Capitol Hill Protest to Save the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) 
 
WHEN: Thursday, May 20th, 2010 
 
WHERE: Corner of Independence Ave SE & 1st ST SE (by the Library of Congress) 
 
WHO: GetEQUAL, a new direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization 
 
TIME: 12:00 noon ­ 2:00 pm (ET) 
 
For additional information about the protest or to become involved, please visit GetEQUAL on Facebook at: 
 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=118196664882662&ref=mf 
 
To receive up to date information about this grassroots, direct action and more, sign up to receive GetEQUAL's Twitter posts by going to: http://www.twitter.com/GetEQUAL and follow the updates @GetEQUAL. 
 
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Yesterday, GetEQUAL, along with other allied organizations, held a rally in front of Speaker Nancy Pelosi¹s (D-CA) San Francisco district office to show their support for her efforts to move the bill to the House floor for a vote this year before Congress recesses for the mid-term elections. Also set to take place Thursday will be a second rally in front of Speaker Pelosi's San Francisco district office, rallying her constituents to express their support for an immediate vote on ENDA. 
 
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a bill that would provide federal workplace protections for LGBT employees. The bill has floated around Congress for more than 30 years. As shocking as it is to believe in 2010, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people can still legally be fired from their jobs in more than half of the country simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, lesbian and gay employees can be fired from their jobs in 29 states, and transgender or gender-nonconforming employees can be fired in 38 states. The sad reality remains that LGBT Americans are continuing to be fired from their jobs every single day for absolutely no valid concern about their skills and ability. To find out more about ENDA and to read real-life accounts of LGBT heroes engaging in civil disobedience to push for the passage of ENDA, please visit: http://getequal.org/?p=197 
 
GetEQUAL is a new direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way. For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit: http://www.getequal.org . 

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