For Immediate Release: Dated May 7, 2005

From: The National Transgender Advocacy Coalition (NTAC)

Chair, Vanessa Edwards Foster; Houston, Texas

Contact Email: ntacmedia@...

media@...

Contact Phone: 832-483-9901

Website: http://www.ntac.org

 

NTAC Prepares For Its Third Lobbying Foray

 

Transgender activists from all over America will make their way to Capitol Hill, May 19-20, 2005 for the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition’s (NTAC) third biannual Lobby Days. The primary objective is to push Congress for passage of inclusive hate crimes prevention and employment equality legislation.  As with last year, NTAC will be taking to Capitol Hill along with GenderPAC, and immediately before the Transgender Veterans March to the Memorial Wall sponsored by the Transgendered American Veterans’ Association (TAVA).

 

NTAC Lobby Days 2005 also comes on the eve of the debut of “Citizen Lobbyist.”  The documentary, shot last year by filmmaker Timothy Watts, followed NTAC lobbyists preparing for lobbying, and making visits with lawmakers in Congress.  The film will make its public debut on May 21 at the Inside Out Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in Toronto.

 

Ethan St. Pierre, vice chair of NTAC’s Lobbying Committee has received commitment by the filmmaker to an advance copy of the film to be sneak-previewed during this year’s lobbying event. 

 

Before visiting Congressional offices, NTAC will hold a plenary session on May 18 at the Marvin Center of George Washington University. 

 

“Citizen Lobbyists from across the country will once again visit members of Congress to argue for transgender inclusion in federal legislation,” said NTAC Lobbying Committee Chair, Marisa Richmond.  “The focus is the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (LLEEA),” Richmond reported, adding, “the Transgender community continues to face tremendous job discrimination regardless of race, class, or ability, and federal legislation to end this practice is overdue. 

 

It is essential to have demonstrably significant numbers of concerned community activists and supporters working together to educate their elected representatives on these vital issues.  The need has never been greater.

 

Richmond pointed out that “Transgender persons are often the victims of some of the most brutal hate crimes in the nation.  We feel that it is time the federal government stepped up to help end it.”

 

Your participation can make a difference, for yourself, your family, and your community. Join other transgender, intersex and gender activists, as well as family, friends, and supporters in pushing for a truly equal America for all citizens. Inaction will not solve the problem of our disparities.  Continued action is the path to equality.

 

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Founded in 1999, NTAC - the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition - is a §501(c)(4) civil rights organization working to establish and maintain the right of all transgendered, intersexed, and gender-variant people to live and work without fear of violence or discrimination.