(JTA) — Some 60 national faith groups, including a number of Jewish organizations, wrote to U.S. senators urging passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
The Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on cloture for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, which would place a short time limit on debate on the bill, preventing a filibuster.
“ENDA is a measured, common sense solution that will ensure workers are judged on their merits, not on their personal characteristics like sexual orientation or gender identity,” the Nov. 1 letter says. “We call on you to pass this important legislation without delay.
“Our faith traditions hold different and sometimes evolving beliefs about the nature of human sexuality and marriage as well as gender identity and gender expression, but we can all agree on the fundamental premise that every human being is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.”
The bill exempts houses of worship and religiously affiliated organizations from its requirements.
Among the Jewish organizations signing the letter are the American Conference of Cantors, American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, B’nai B’rith International, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hadassah-The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish Women International, Keshet, The Rabbinical Assembly, The Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Women of Reform Judaism.
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