May Day

Today is May Day, or International Workers' Day.  It's a day to celebrate the labor movement and the working people who have fought for so many of the rights we enjoy now (like the weekend, the 8-hour day, laws against child labor, family and medical leave, etc...).  The labor movement may be smaller today than it was in the past, but it is still vibrant and active and workers are still sticking their necks out to fight for rights and protections that can benefit everybody.

Some cities and states have passed laws protecting transgender and gender non-conforming people on the job, but there are still over 35 states in which it is legal to fire a person based on their gender identity or expression.   Folks have also been advocating for a federal nondiscrimination act to protect gender identity and expression, but thus far, no federal legislation has passed.   Since most states do not protect against gender identity discrimination at work, unions have taken up the cause and have often been able to negotiate such protections into their contracts.

Credit: http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/human-rights-maps-169-legislation-prohibiting-employment-discrimination-on-the-basis-of-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity/

In honor of May Day, check out the good stuff Pride at Work (part of the AFL-CIO family) has been advocating for on behalf of transfolk:

IT'S TIME TO PASS THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMINATION ACT