We're back to the testimony of the witnesses — with updates

From Chris Johnson — 1:21 PM Update:

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Ca) asked Shannon Minter her first question.

She asks Minter why clarifying federal law would be helpful given state laws providing T protections.

Minter responds that having a federal law would have a transformative effect on our country. It would provide a platform for education and legal resources, something the T community definitely needs.

From Rachel — 1:15 PM Update:

Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights is the final witness. He’s been in the news recently for his successful efforts to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. He made the point that discrimination against transgender workers should be covered under Title seven, which pertains

OMG an amazing exchange just took place! Rob Andrews pressed Lavy on his claims that forcing religious employers to hire transgender workers would be like "forcing an Orthodox Jew to eat pork." Andrews asks whether an Orthodox Jew with a law firm could refuse to hire a Catholic. Lavy is forced to respond in the negative. Andrews then presents a series of similar scenarios – should a pacifist be allowed to discriminate against a Vietnam vet? – and Lavy just looks at him blankly, speechlessly. Andrews is killing him right now and eloquently making the point that the "religious conscience" argument does not hold up to scrutiny. I wish I could type faster or had video! Because this is DELICIOUS. The overflow room is rapt.

[Photo: Shannon Minter testifying at today's hearing.]

From Rachel — 12:58 PM Update:

Now Sabrina Marcus Taraboletti is testifying. She had been an aerospace engineer, but an employer fired her six weeks after she announced that she’d transition from male to female. She is talking about how it was easier for her employers to get rid of her rather than try to learn more about transgender issues. She rejects the idea that being transgender is not an immutable characteristic like race. She’s endured the humiliation of being fired, the end of her marriage, the pain of electrolysis and other aspects of transitioning, and the loss of her home and much of her assets. It’s a very sad story. This woman does not deserve all that has happened to her.

Here’s a quote from her testimony: 

There are those who believe that being transgender is a lifestyle or a choice. Personally, I have lost my wife, most of my assets, and my home in divorce.  I have been abandoned by half of my family and friends.  At the same time, I had to find the $70-90,000 of funding and endure the extreme pain of electrolysis, and the various other surgeries required to complete the transition from male to female.  All this while trying to stay employed!  Believe me, no one wakes up one morning and thinks, "Hey, I think I’m going to change my sex today."

From Chris Johnson — 12:52 PM Update:

The start of the Alliance for the Defense Fund attorney Glen Lavy’s testimony brings a noticeable shift in the mood of the hearing attendees. There’s more shifting and sighs of disbelief. Sabrina Taraboletti, who is sitting next to Lavy, leans in close and focuses an intense gaze on him.

From Rachel — 12:45 PM update on the opposition witness:

Attorney JC Miller is discussing her concerns about ENDA, in particular that workplaces intending to comply with the law will still be subject to lawsuits. She asserts that to prevent this, legislation must clearly define "gender identity," specify restroom policies, and carve out some exemptions.

Is anyone else incredibly sick of this pathetic restroom argument? For heavens sake. Never in my lifetime of using women’s restrooms have I ever gotten up close and personal enough with a stranger to care about anything other than when they will be done so I can go. Sorry if opponents of equality have hang-ups to work out, but that is just not reasonable.

From Chris Johnson — 12:35 PM Update:

Diego Sanchez speaks next. He discusses growing up transgender and talks about his experience saving money to have SRS surgery. He puts a personal spin on the importance of today’s hearing by mentioning the dilemma of transgender friends who have lost their jobs or are denied work  because of their GI.

__________________________________________

Rep. Rob Andrews is reading the biographies of the witnesses and testimony is about to begin.

Each witness will have a limited time to deliver his or her remarks – about five minutes.

Diane Schroer is first. She’s discussing her illustrious career in the army, from which she retired in 2004. In fall of that year, she applied for a job in the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and was offered the position. At the time, she was beginning her gender transition and informed her future supervisor that she intended to begin her job as a female. Suddenly, the job offer was rescinded. The Library of Congress offered some weak excuses for the overnight change of heart – fear that she’d lose her security clearance (bogus – it was renewed without issue in 2007) or that she lose the support of her colleagues in the military and security communities (who are actually among her staunchest supporters). There is ongoing litigation about this. She said something I said was particularly affecting: that she still hopes the phone will ring and it will be the Library saying they’d made a mistake. It illustrates the heartbreaking reality of discrimination. This is more than a political issue. This is about real people with real lives – and tremendous talent to offer, but are prevented from doing so.

[Photo: Hearing witnesses Diane Schroer and Diego Sanchez]