Let Employers Set Their Own Standards of Behavior and Dress

Efforts to equate being a homosexual or a transvestite with being African American or female, by providing federal civil rights protections for "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," will be promoted on Capitol Hill tomorrow. The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on H.R. 3017, the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" (ENDA).

This bill would interfere with private employers' rights to set their own standards for employment to an unprecedented degree, offering protections for a voluntary behavior (unlike those for race or sex) with no foundation in our Constitution (unlike protections for religion). While ENDA is wrong in principle, there's also little need for it.

The state of Oregon saw only 62 complaints in the first 18 months that a similar state law was in effect, which was only 2% of the total number of complaints in all categories. One man who filed a complaint had been fired for cheating on an exam and showing up late for work. One man who is not a homosexual sued based on his "perceived" orientation because colleagues criticized him for wearing earrings. And these were considered some of the stronger cases! ENDA would only invite persecution of Christians who stand up for their beliefs in the workplace. Urge your U.S. Representative to oppose H.R. 3017.

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