Norton Thanks Home-Rule and Human Rights Coalition for Efforts to Defend D.C.’s Pro-Choice, Pro-LGBT Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 16, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked a coalition of 53 national and local groups for its letter to members of Congress urging them to “oppose any effort in Congress, including through resolutions of disapproval, that would prevent two bills recently passed by the District of Columbia Council from taking effect.”  The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act would prohibit D.C. employers from discriminating against employees based on their personal reproductive health decisions, and the Human Rights Amendment Act would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students from discrimination by educational institutions in the District.

“I thank the dozens of national and local groups that have come forward for the District of Columbia’s local self-government right to enact legislation to protect local residents from discrimination,” Norton said.  “The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act protects the right to privacy in one’s reproductive decisions, perhaps the most private of personal decisions.  In our country, no employer has the right to violate an individual’s constitutional right to privacy by inquiring into the reproductive choices of an employee or an applicant.  The Human Rights Amendment Act protects LGBT students from discrimination by their own schools and universities because of their sexual orientation.  It should be unthinkable that students would be shunned by any educational institution because of their sexual orientation.  These are local laws that match the local interests of D.C. residents.  D.C. is not a political playground for Members of Congress, and I will fight tirelessly alongside our local and national partners to defend D.C.’s anti-discrimination laws.”