Tag: Civil Rights

Merkley to lead push for federal LGBT protection

WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced his intention to introduce sweeping anti-discrimination legislation that would provide federal protections for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals. The bill, which Merkley plans to introduce sometime after the 114th Congress is sworn in Jan. 6, will be designed to

Merkley outlines plans for LGBT civil rights bill

Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joined Friday with Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and Oregon LGBT leaders to announce his plan to push broad LGBT civil rights legislation in the next Congress.   Merkley laid out his rationale and plan for across the board protections for LGBT Americans and announced that

Merkley Announces Plan for Sweeping LGBT Civil Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced his plan to push broad LGBT civil rights legislation today before a meeting of the Center for American Progress (CAP).  In his keynote speech for the event “We The People: Why Congress Must Pass a Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Act,” Merkley laid out his rationale

Sen. Merkley doubles down on LGBT nondiscrimination law

Rather than trying again to pass a law banning workplace discrimination, Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley plans to introduce a broader measure in 2015 to outlaw discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in employment, housing and public accommodations. “Oregon and the nation are on a trajectory towards equality, and

A Comprehensive LGBT Nondiscrimination Bill Is Coming

A bill that would make it illegal to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in hiring and firing has been introduced in some form — and then failed to become law — in nearly every Congress for the past two decades. On Wednesday, a champion of that bill,

Merkley Statement on Grand Jury Decisions in Missouri and New York

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the grand jury decisions in Ferguson, MO and Staten Island, NY: “The deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner are tragic, and my thoughts are with their families and friends during this difficult time. Their deaths, and those of

U.S. Labor issues anti-discrimination rule

Washington • The Labor Department issued a rule Wednesday to protect employees of federal contractors from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The rule would carry out terms of a workplace anti-discrimination law signed by President Barack Obama on July 21. “Americans believe in fairness and opportunity.

Merkley Statement on New Federal LGBT Workplace Protection Rules

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, released the following statement today upon the announcement of new rules released by the U.S. Department of Labor requiring equal protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans who work for the federal government or federal contractor:  “Today’s announcement is an important step forward toward

Merkley Slams Filibuster that Blocks Equal Pay Legislation

Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after a Senate minority used a filibuster to once again block a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would help ensure equal pay for equal work for all Americans: “Paying women the same as men is a matter of

Merkley Statement on Ferguson, MO

Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on the recent events in Ferguson, MO: I am deeply disturbed by the recent events in Ferguson, MO, which has become a tragic reminder of how many divisions remain in our nation and the work we still have ahead of us

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