I took part in the National Center for Transgender Equality's Lobby Days in Washington D.C. I was there Sunday through Tuesday March 13-15!
I made many new friends from across the USA! It was a very energetic group of people and was a very intense 3 days!!
I got to meet with 2 Representatives and 2 Senators and deliver my message about ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act). I think it went quite well!! I exchanged e-mails with their staffs members and have followed up with them. I hope to be able to get in contact with their district offices and educate them about trans issues!!
It was quite a trip traipsing around the Capital building and the office buildings of the House and Senate! I got to travel in the bowels of our national government. I even took the mini train in the sub-basement from the house offices to the Senate offices! I was told later that they were for members only!! I just walked up like I belonged and got on!!
I also got to go to a reception at the National Press Club on Monday night!! I got to meet leaders of many LGBT organizations and establish contacts with them.
ENDA is very important for our community!! Right now we can be fired in 38 states just fior being transgendered!! The effort to change each state would be enormous!! A Federal law would protect anywhere in the USA!! So that is where I am focusing my efforts.
You can help by contacting your representatives and asking them to support ENDA!! Also if you have experienced discrimination in your workplace, please share that with them. Together we can make a change and make it safer for future trans folks to be able to be their true selfs!!
Pamela Ann Reed
