ENDA Explodes
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THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 OctOber 3, 2007 • vOl 23 nO 04 ENDA Explodes BY Lisa KEEN The statement was unusually cryptic, saying only being able to add transgender protections.” that the decision was based on their discussions A major controversy has erupted within the LGBT with “with congressional leaders and organiza- ‘Riddled with loopholes’ community over a decision by U.S. Rep. Barney tions supporting passage of ENDA.” But opposition within the LGBT community to Frank, D-Mass., to seek passage of a new ver- But the clamor behind the scenes was anything Frank’s proposal had been mounting dramatical- sion of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act but cryptic. LGBT organizations from around the ly even before he issued his statement. And on (ENDA) that both excludes gender identity and, country had waged an unprecedented effort to Monday, Lambda Legal Defense and Education in the view of a major gay legal organization, stop the new version of the bill from proceeding. Fund issued an analysis of the new bill, saying it is so “riddled” with “loopholes” as to seriously Nearly 100 signed onto an Oct. 1 letter to Miller, was “riddled with loopholes” that would dimin- diminish its ability to protect gay men and les- saying they were opposed to the “strategy and ish protections based on sexual orientation. CHASING bians from workplace discrimination. process” behind the new version. “The recent version is not simply the old ver- Opposition to the new bill was so strong and Frank had, on Friday, issued a five-page expla- sion with the transgender protections stripped KEVIN grew so quickly during the past week that House nation of the strategy, saying that supporters out,” said Kevin Cathcart, executive direc- page 22 Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Mon- of the legislation “have the votes” they need tor of the group, “but rather has modified the day that a committee vote on the measure that to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act old version in several additional and troubling had been slated for Tuesday would not be held “as it has historically existed, banning discrimi- ways.” Cathcart said there was a “huge loophole until “later this month, followed by a vote in the nation on sexual orientation”—that is, without through which employers …can claim that their full House.” gender identity. conduct was actually based on gender expres- Pelosi’s announcement came in a joint state- “After we are successful in winning that vote,” sion, a type of discrimination that the new bill ment Monday evening with Frank, Rep. Tammy said Frank, “I will urge the Committee on Educa- does not prohibit.” Baldwin, D-Wis., and Rep. George Miller, D-Ca- tion and Labor to proceed with out next step, “You can’t be fired for being a lesbian or a gay lif., who chairs the House Committee on Educa- which will be to continue the educational pro- Turn to page 4 tion and Labor which is handling the legislation. cess that I believe will ultimately lead to our MARTHA, FALL MARTHA, MARTHA page 6 pages 14, 19-21 MUSIC GALA HAS ITALIAN FLAIR page 6 pick it up PREVIEW take it home THE #912, OCTOBER 3, 2007 REAL BEALS www.WindyCityQueercast.com page 23 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com 2 October 3, 2007 October 3, 2007 3 F ROM DIVA TO MEDUSA TO BARE… TO HER NEXT STUNNING MASTERPIECE index News ENDA fallout 4 Sidebar: Groups support trans 4 Chicago police sued 5 Galas: CNOW, Chicago House 6 Martha Stewart luncheon 6 Trans town-hall forum 7 Budget-cut meeting 7 National news 8 Hillary stumbles 8 World roundup 9 ENDA editorial, Monroe 10 Runway ALMA nears 11 Tammy Baldwin piece 12 Lesbian U.S. Congressman Tammy Quotelines 13 Baldwin, D-Wis., has written a piece in honor of Gay History Month. See page ENTERTAINMENT 12. Pop Making Sense 14 Theater 16 Kristine W interview 19 Pansy Division’s Jon Ginoli 20 Brand-new Melissa interview 21 Kevin Smith’s ‘small’ talk 22 Jennifer Beals talks 23 Knight at the Movies 24 Book review: Dateland 25 OUTLINES Classifieds 25 Real estate ads 26 Film fest, Hollywood 28 Oh, what a feeling! Jennifer Beals talks Calendar, Dykes 29 with Windy City Media Group’s Amy Sports: Marathon man 30 Matheny about The L Word, Flash- dance—and cooking. See page 23. This week’s online-only www. features include: Windy —Media Watch —An interview with City ALMA Board President Media Julio Rodriguez about the Runway ALMA. Group —A talk with the CDC’s FEATURES .com Gregorio Millett (right), who will be at an Oct. 10 AND forum in Chicago SING DARK ROAD —A brand-new Melissa Etheridge interview photo courtesy of Millett www.WindyCityQueercast.com IN STORES NOW AVAILABLE AT GIRLFRIEND, please Amy Wooten talks with Trish Bendix and Jamie Murnane, formerly of CHILL Magazine about their new www.annielennox.com www.songsofmassdestruction.com www.arista.com blog Girlfriend Is A Homo. © 2007 Arista Records, a unit of SONY BMG Music Entertainment photo by Kirk Williamson. #912, OCTOBER 3, 2007 4 October 3, 2007 ENDA from cover the new version of the bill would be canceled. male teachers wearing dresses to school, he said an essay on their website, claiming that ENDA David Smith, a longtime congressional insider has no evidence that such negative lobbying has could lead to situations in which parents would man, but you can be fired if your boss thinks you and vice president of programs for HRC, said his led to the current decision by the bill’s leader- be “forced to explain to Junior why Ms. Johnson fit their stereotype of one,” said Cathcart. organization was “baffled” by the sudden deci- ship to drop gender identity. at parochial school has a five o’clock shadow, The new version also states that it does not sion by Frank and “House leadership” to get be- Right-wing groups are doing their share to ral- calves like Schwarzenegger, an Adam’s apple the prohibit an employer from excluding domestic hind a version of ENDA that omits gender iden- ly support against ENDA, regardless of whether size of a golf ball and is stuffed into a miniskirt partners from health insurance benefits while tity. it includes gender identity. But such groups tend like a ten pound turkey in a five pound bag.” providing them to the spouses of heterosexual “Anybody who was afraid of the issue would to focus on gender identity when making their And a website called “Americans for Truth about employees. have been afraid of it on the hate crimes bill,” case. Concerned Women for America published Turn to page 31 “The old version,” said Cathcart, “at least pro- said Smith. vided that states and local governments could The House approved a hate crimes bill in May we desperately need their support, apparently require that employees be provided domestic which includes crimes motivated by sexual ori- Groups Back we don’t have it,” she said. partner health insurance when such benefits are entation and gender identity. But even as it Trans-Inclusion Below is a just a partial list of the organiza- provided to spouses.” passed, the White House issued a statement tions that signed the letter: Two dozen national groups—led by the Na- saying that “senior advisors” to the president BY AMY WOOTEN tional Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Na- would recommend he veto it. (There was no indi- More than 90 national and state organizations National OrganiZations tional Center for Transgender Equality—signed cation whether those advisors might have been National Black Justice Coalition that signed a letter delivered to Congress Oct. onto a letter Fri., Sept. 28, asking House Speak- or included Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or National Center for Lesbian Rights 1, urging to keep the Employment Non-Dis- er Pelosi to “oppose any substitute legislation Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, both of whom National Center for Transgender Equality crimination Act (ENDA) trans-inclusive, includ- that leaves some of us behind.” By Mon., Oct. 1, have since left their positions.) National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs ing organizations with local ties. that list had grown to 93—42 national groups Speaker Pelosi initially backed Frank’s two-bill National Coalition for LGBT Health Equality Illinois (EQIL) was one of the first and 51 state and local groups, including Equality approach, saying it “has the best prospects for National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc. California, the Empire State Pride Agenda, Equal- success on the House floor.” state organizations to respond with an im- National Stonewall Democrats ity Texas, Equal Rights Washington, Equality Il- “For my 20 years in Congress, ending discrimi- mediate “all-or-nothing” attitude. After all, National Transgender Advocacy Coalition linois, and the Triangle Foundation of Michigan. nation against gays and lesbians has been a top the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of National Youth Advocacy Coalition Only one group based in Frank’s home state priority of mine,” said Pelosi, in a brief state- Chicago and organizations in areas such as Mo- American Institute of Bisexuality of Massachusetts—Gay & Lesbian Advocates & ment released to the press on Sept. 28. “While line got anti-discrimination laws on the books Bisexual Resource Center Defenders—signed onto the letter. While the I personally favor legislation that would include without leaving the trans community behind. DignityUSA Human Rights Campaign signed onto the letter gender identity, the new ENDA legislation pro- EQIL’s Rick Garcia described the news of the Equality Federation to Miller asking that the vote be postponed, it posed by Congressman Frank has the best pros- introduction of new legislation that would ex- Equality Project Investor Advocates was noticeably absent from the letter to Pelosi pects for success on the House floor.