Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims today sent an open letter to his Republican U.S. Senator, Pat Toomey. In an elegant and intelligent plea, Sims urged Toomey to support ENDA, and didn’t hold back. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act will have its first vote in the U.S. Senate on Monday.
“Senator, I not only urge you as an openly gay man, but also as a fellow lawmaker and Pennsylvanian to vote in favor of ENDA when the legislation comes up for a vote next week, but I encourage you in the strongest terms possible to state right now, unequivocally, that you will be a co-sponsor of the bill as well.”
“I believe that there is no single piece of civil rights legislation in existence that is more impactful to members of the LGBT community than a fully inclusive ENDA,” Sims writes. “This legislation does not create special rights, but simply includes hardworking LGBT people among the categories of Americans which the government is already protecting from employment discrimination. No one should lose their job, be subjected to discriminatory treatment or harassment, or be denied the opportunity for advancement because of bigotry, fear or hatred.”
Sims notes that Toomey has “a tremendous opportunity” to “proclaim your support for a more equal nation.”
While we all continue to grapple with issues of faith, morality, family and government, what is clear is that we are a people who believe in giving everyone a fair shot and a fair shake.
Sims also wisely linked ENDA to Toomey’s “steadfast commitment to job creation and increasing economic opportunities for the state,” and noted that while “the fringe opposition to equality may be a difficult burden to bear at times, the citizens of Pennsylvania are clear in their overwhelming support for these types of basic, commonsense protections.”
Toomey has also served as a U.S. Congressman, and as president of the Tea Party activist group, Club for Growth. While not serving as an elected official, Toomey did support the repeal of DADT, but still has a “0” rating from HRC. He has voted for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, and he voted to ban adoption by same-sex couples in Washington, D.C.
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 State Rep. Brian Sims Pens Open Letter to Senator Toomey.pdf
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Image: Brian Sims via his Facebook page