Historic Hearing on Workplace Discrimination Against Transgender Americans
On Thursday, June 26, 2008 history was made when, for the first time, Congress held a hearing exclusively on the issue of workplace discrimination against transgender Americans. The Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions of the House Education and Labor Committee held the hearing entitled "An Examination of Discrimination Against Transgender Americans.”
The hearing was a critical part of efforts by HRC and the entire GLBT community to educate Members of Congress about the issues facing transgender Americans and the need for federal protections based on gender identity.
HRC worked with a coalition of groups, as well as Congressional allies – including Subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) – to ensure that the hearing sent a strong message to Congress about the need for fully-inclusive federal workplace protections. HRC activated resources throughout the organization to ensure that a diverse group of voices – from Fortune 500 corporations to faith leaders to our members throughout the country – were heard in support of federal employment protections for transgender workers.
- Read more about the hearing on our blog
- Read HRC's press release about the hearing
- View photos of today's hearing
- Watch the webcast of the hearing on the Committee's website
First Panel
- Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA)
- Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Second Panel
- Diego Sanchez
Director of Public Relations & External Affairs
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. - Diane Schroer
Colonel, United States Army, Retired - Sabrina Marcus Taraboletti
Aerospace Engineer - Bill Hendrix, Ph.D.
Product Stewardship Specialist – Dow AgroSciences
Global Leader of Gays, Lesbians and Allies at Dow (GLAD)
The Dow Chemical Company - Shannon Minter
Legal Director
National Center for Lesbian Rights
Testimony and Letters of Support
- Written Testimony of Rev. Erin Swenson, member of HRC Religion Council (PDF)
- Gender Identity Hearing Coalition Letter (PDF)
- HRC Religion Council Letter of Support (PDF)
- Written Statement of Joe Solmonese, President Human Rights Campaign (PDF)
- Written Statement of Meghan Stabler (PDF)
Hearing Coverage on HRC Back Story
- Congressional hearing on transgender issues breaks new ground on Capitol Hill
- We're back to the testimony of the witnesses -- with updates
- The hearing has begun
- Prologue to the historic hearings
- Transgender advocate Diego Sanchez discusses educating Congress on transgender issues
- Today: Media conference call with transgender leaders to preview historic congressional hearing on gender identity
