(HRC Back Story) Those opposed to equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have been working hard to push the lie that LGBT people — and particularly transgender folks — suffer from “mental illness” are are therefore unworthy of basic employment protections. In an incredibly offensive editorial last month , the Washington Times argued that “discrimination is necessary” or else children would be subjected to “weirdos.” They also cite the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a basis for their argument. In response, the President of the APA wrote a letter to the editor of the Washington Times to correct the record and rebut their distortion of the DSM.

(365 Gay) Thirteen protesters were arrested Thursday following a sit-in at Senator Richard Durbin’s Chicago office, the Advocate reported. The protesters entered Durbin’s office demanding he sign a call to “forcefully declare the urgent need for a transgender-inclusive ENDA in 2010.” Durbin was not in his office and when told that they could not speak to him, the protesters reportedly, “refused to leave and began chanting ‘ENDA now.’” Below is a photo of the protesters from the group’s twitter page. This demonstration took place simultaneously with a rally at Capitol Hill in favor of the bill, which would defend employees against discrimination and harassment based on gender or sexual orientation.

(GLAAD) LGBT leaders gathered at the National Press Club on Tuesday to demand immediate action from legislators on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – a federal bill that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. “Despite a record number of sponsors and endorsements for passage of this landmark civil rights legislation, ENDA remains locked in committee as the clock winds down on the opportunity to act,” said Executive Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Rea Carey. Among other advocates and allies in attendance were Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality Mara Keisling, Executive Director of PFLAG National Jody M.

(GLAAD) As the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) progresses toward a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, media coverage of its proposed protections for transgender workers is rising. Keeping a close watch over this coverage has revealed a disturbing trend among some reporters to include extremely defamatory remarks from anti-LGBT activists in an attempt to “balance” their stories with opposing viewpoints.

(GLAAD) Last Friday, The Washington Times published an editorial entitled “ Discrimination is Necessary ” that advocated for discrimination against LGBT people. The editorial, which referred to LGBT people as “weirdos”, targeted the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)–a policy that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The paper also said that transgender people are unfit to teach children and resorted to using offensive slurs and unfounded arguments to defame the group..

(Gay Politics) The leaders of the National Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans today jointly issued a call for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The rare meeting of the minds of the two partisan political groups was no doubt aimed at moderates in both parties who still have not signaled their support of the bill. Writing in an op-ed piece that was posted both in the liberal Huffington Post and the conservative Daily Caller , Stonewall’s Michael Mitchell and Log Cabin’s Terry Hamilton wrote: Americans of both parties are opposed to discrimination in the workforce based upon sexual orientation and gender identity.

(Gay Politics) The Traditional Values Coalition, an anti-LGBT group with the distinction of having been designated a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has successfully placed a number of op-eds and blog stories over the past few weeks warning Congress that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act will force school children to stay in school while their teachers transition genders. In an op-ed post today in Roll Call newspaper , which primarily serves Capitol Hill and is read by Congressional offices and lobbyists, TVC executive director Andrea Lafferty attempted to scare members of Congress who face reelection in the fall: Aside from the federal government trampling states’ rights, what type of education are we giving to our children when we present them with difficult questions regarding gender identity? These impressionable young students need a stable environment in which to learn.

(Gay Politics) Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is urging LGBT Americans and their allies to call or write their members of Congress to ask them to support a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Frank, in California for a fundraiser, told LGBT POV blogger/reporter Karen Ocamb that petitions, marches and sign-waving are not as effective as communicating directly with one’s representatives on Capitol Hill: There’s only one way to do it – it doesn’t mean marching, it doesn’t mean waving signs.

(HRC Back Story) While much of the LGBT community’s focus is on the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” organizing around the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is still going strong. Here are a couple of updates to give you a taste of what’s still happening… Just recently, our friends at St. Lawrence College in Canton sent in dozens of hand written letters to Representative Bill Owens in upstate New York.

(HRC Back Story) Imagine getting fired. Not because you aren’t good at your job. Not because you show up late or slack off but solely because you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.