Today the leaders in the fight for equality, released a press release and action alert to the LGBT community and our Allies. This bill will ensure equal protection across South Carolin in employment and is "gender identity" inclusive. This means to the Transgender community this bill is for you as much as it is our Gay brothers and sisters and I urge you to take the time to sign up for SC Equality's Action Alerts, find your local State Legislagtors, take 5 min. to call them and give your name and support for (H.4025) The WorkPlace Fairness Act. That's all that is being asked to help yourself, your friends, your bar buddies, your fellow trans sisters and brothers to have a more inclusive life in the state of South Carolina.
Below is the Press Released today by Ryan Wilson, Exedcutive Director of SC Equality, followed by their Action Alert where you can sign up to recieve updates on the bill and a link to find your local representatives who need to know you exsist.
It's your turn LGBT of South Carolina, are you here? Are you ready for your day in the sun of equality? Aren't you ready to be free? Then tell them now.
Below is the Press Released today by Ryan Wilson, Exedcutive Director of SC Equality, followed by their Action Alert where you can sign up to recieve updates on the bill and a link to find your local representatives who need to know you exsist.
It's your turn LGBT of South Carolina, are you here? Are you ready for your day in the sun of equality? Aren't you ready to be free? Then tell them now.
Sabrina Samone, TMP
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2013
Ryan Wilson, Executive Director, SC Equality | ryan@scequality.org | (803) 256-6500
(H.4025) The Workplace Fairness Act introduced in South Carolina's House
Bill would extend current employment laws to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender South Carolinians
Columbia, South Carolina – On Tuesday April 30, 2013, South Carolina Equality announced the introduction of H.4025: “The Workplace Fairness Act” at a press conference at the State House. This bill will ensure equal protection across South Carolina in employment adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to existing employment laws. H.4025 is sponsored Representative James Smith, a democrat from Richland County.
Despite 40 years of progress and acceptance toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, no state or federal law protects LGBT citizens from discrimination in the workplace. South Carolina Equality assisted with the drafting and introduction of H.4025 – “The Workplace Fairness Act” to ensure equal protection in employment regardless of one's sexual orientation or gender identity. A similar piece of legislation, "The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)" was introduced at the Federal level on Thursday, April 25, 2013.
"All hardworking people in our state should have the chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families. Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance," said Ryan Wilson, Executive Director of South Carolina Equality.
Representative James Smith, who introduced H.4025, stated “The Workplace Fairness Act is really about protecting South Carolina’s diverse workforce to make it competitive for businesses that are looking to relocate to South Carolina. We want more Fortune 500 companies and more jobs in South Carolina; passing this bill will align our state laws with the employment policies that many companies already have.”
Nearly all Fortune 500 companies nationwide as well as major employers around the state such have already extended employment protections to LGBT people because they know it's good for recruiting talent and growing the bottom line including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Computer Sciences Corp., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, FedEx, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chevron, Home Depot, Target and Pepsi.
“During three decades of practicing employment law, I have witnessed the tragic consequences when excellent, hard-working employees have been fired simply because they are gay or transgender.” said M. Malissa Burnette, Esq., who is a Certified Specialist in Employment & Labor Law and chair of the board of SC Equality's legislative efforts. “This amendment would give all South Carolinians a fair chance to earn a living without fear of losing their jobs regardless of who they are or who they love,” she continued.
South Carolinas Equality is a non-profit organization with the mission to secure equal civil and human rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender South Carolinians and their families, and has a vision of a South Carolina where everyone is equal. Contact Ryan Wilson at ryan@scequality.org or visit www.scequality.org.
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Ryan C. Wilson, M.Ed.
Executive Director
South Carolina Equality
Office: 803.256.6500
Cell: 803.546.9035
Fax: 866-532-1223
EQUAL means EVERYONE!
In South Carolina, it's legal to fire someone simply because of who they are or who they love.
But moments ago, I watched as Representative James Smith introduced the Workplace Fairness Act (H4025) in the General Assembly. This important legislation provides critical protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) South Carolinians by making it illegal to fire someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
We need your help to ensure that the Workplace Fairness Act is given a fair hearing and a vote in the House. As this bill is introduced, we need our Representatives to hear from an outpouring of supporters.
Click here to send a message to your Representative. Urge them to co-sponsor H4025 with Rep. Smith
| At South Carolina Equality, we know how important this legislation is. Far too often, we hear stories from LGBT South Carolinians who have experienced discrimination at work and have no access to justice because our laws don't protect us. Because of these stories, we've made this employment non-discrimination bill one of our top priorities. We're going to be investing our energy and resources into winning support from key lawmakers statewide, and we'll need your help throughout our campaign. Growing our list of sponsors is absolutely critical to starting this campaign off on the right foot. It only takes a minute to send a message to your legislators, but it makes a big difference. Contact your Representative now -- and ask them to sign on as a sponsor of the Workplace Fairness Act. I'll be honest with you, Sabrina -- passing this bill is not going to be easy. But I believe that if we build a strong grassroots effort, we can secure the support we need to win. Onward, Ryan Wilson Executive Director, SC Equality P.S. As I stood there with Rep. Smith today, I told the press why H4025 is important: "All hardworking people in our state should have the chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families. Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance." If you agree, send a message to your Representative now.  |
 
South Carolina Equality
PO Box 544
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