Source: Associated Press

The Massachusetts Democrat is leading a push in the Senate for a federal ban on job bias against gays, lesbians and bisexuals -- but not transsexuals, cross-dressers and others whose outward appearance doesn't match their gender at birth.

"We will strongly oppose it," said Roberta Sklar of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Leaving transgender people out makes that a flawed movement."

NTLTF -- "The Task Force" -- led the lobbying campaign against the non-inclusive House bill last fall. The group collected support from over 350 organizations in its campaign to scuttle the bill if it didn't cover transgender workers.

The House in November approved the bill, written by openly gay Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., despite the protests from activists and groups aligned with the Task Force.

"It was made very clear in the fall that most LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) organizations, the vast majority of LGBT organizations, do not want Congress to shove a civil rights bill down our throat that we don't want," said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Some gay rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, supported Frank's bill and the decision not to risk its rejection by Congress by insisting on immediate transgender protections as well.

"We will continue this work until all members of our community no longer fear being fired for who they are," said Brad Luna, Human Rights Campaign communications director.

Kennedy said Senate approval of the bill could pave the way for extending protections to transgender workers next year, when he hopes Democrats will increase their numbers in Congress and a Democratic president supporting gay rights will be in the White House.

"The fact is that the House of Representatives has taken action," Kennedy said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press. "The best opportunity for progress is ... to follow along on the action of the House of Representatives, and then look down the road to a new day after we have a good Democratic Congress and a Democratic president."

Kennedy expects an "uphill fight" in the narrowly divided Senate, where 60 votes rather than a simple majority would be needed to overcome expected GOP stalling tactics.

The decision by House Democratic leaders last fall to scuttle protections based on gender identity created sharp splits in the party and among gay rights activists.

Frank was harshly criticized by many longtime allies in the gay rights community over the stripped-down bill after he urged them not to let the dispute over transgender workers doom an important civil rights gain. He pledged to continue to fight for protection for transgender workers.

Supporters said the bill would have failed in the House if the transgender protection had been included. But the transgender community and its supporters were furious. Keisling's group has already approached Kennedy.

"We've expressed to Senator Kennedy's office our disappointment and opposition to his idea to move forward," Keisling said. "We're always working and talking with his office and we'll see what happens."

It is unclear whether the Senate fight will be as intense.

Full article: Kennedy Targets Job Bias Against Gays | Associated Press