Happy Pride, Rainbow Rumpus parents! It is an honor to address you during our month of celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of the GLBT community. You have made a real difference in the quality of family life in Minnesota. Together, we have much to celebrate, and more to be hopeful for!
We have cause for celebration and real hope here in Washington, DC. As you know, much change has come with the historic 110th Congress. As a result, legislation that went nowhere during the past twelve years may finally get the attention it deserves. I am excited about three vital pieces of legislation of particular interest to the GLBT community that are moving forward.
First, I am a proud cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, a bill that would add sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability to existing law regarding the authority of the federal government to investigate and prosecute crimes. Not only will this hate crimes bill signal that our country does not tolerate bias-motivated violence, it will fully equip local law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute such crimes if and when they do occur. As I write this update, the bill has passed out of the Judiciary Committee (on which I sit) and awaits a vote before the full House of Representatives.
I am extremely excited about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that addresses discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or refuse to promote employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Thanks to our advocacy efforts here at home, Minnesota is NOT one of 33 states where it is still legal to fire someone because of their sexual orientation. However, I believe it is time for all states and the laws of our country to reflect the fundamental principle of employment fairness. When qualified, hardworking Americans are denied job opportunities, fired, or otherwise discriminated against for reasons that have nothing to do with their performance and abilities, we all lose out. ENDA was recently introduced in the House with bipartisan support including my proud cosponsorship.
During a recent visit with Human Rights Campaign volunteers from my Fifth Congressional District, we discussed the tremendous damage the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy has had on GLBT military families. It just makes no sense to me for the military to spend another minute (or dime) investigating and replacing brave and honorable service members who honestly and openly embrace their loved ones at military send-offs, or simply request that their partners be notified if they are killed or wounded while in action. That is why I am also proud to be one of the first freshman members of Congress to sign on as a cosponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007, commonly referred to as the bill that will repeal the military’s antiquated “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The bill is currently awaiting a hearing in the Committee on Armed Services, and I will continue to work hard for its passage.
In addition to these important efforts, we are making positive strides in other areas that impact all of our families — and our communities. As you may know, peace is a major priority of mine, and I am working hard to end the war in Iraq as quickly as possible.
I have also joined with many of my colleagues to reject President Bush’s fiscal rollback of essential funding for education, health care, and environmental protections. We have begun work on comprehensive immigration reform, and I am hopeful Congress will pass a bill that serves the needs of all Minnesotans — employers and workers. We are also making headway on the Financial Services Committee (on which I also serve) to combat unscrupulous predatory lending practices that have devastated many of our most vulnerable communities in the past few years. By introducing important credit reform legislation, it is my hope to pave the way for greater prosperity for all of our families.
Here at home, we’ve begun holding a series of town hall forums across the Fifth district. Last month, I spoke with educators and parents at Hopkins North Junior High School about the need to reform the administration’s No Child Left Behind comprehensive education legislation. My office organized a forum and resource fair for seniors in Fridley. We’re planning a forum on prisoner reentry issues at the beginning of May. These events are a wonderful way for me to hear from constituents on issues you care about. We plan to organize many more community forums and listening sessions, so please let me know if you have ideas for topics or would like to attend one that has already been planned. My website, is a great place to start to contact me and my staff.
As we celebrate this year’s Pride, I offer my wholehearted thanks to you for spreading a message of tolerance and peace. I want to hear if there are ways I can better represent you, if you know a community event I can attend, or just whatever is on your mind!
Happy Pride!
Keith Ellison
Member of Congress
District Office
(612) 522-1212
Washington DC Office
(202) 225-4755
