Morgan State University Organizes to Support ENDA
November 25, 2009
HRC Diversity Student Coordinator Joey Gaskins submits this post on organizing students for ENDA: 
Three weeks ago, students at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland organized a letter writing campaign in support of the Employment Non-discrimination Act (ENDA). Students gathered after classes during a meeting of Rainbow Soul — the campus’ only LGBT student organization — and with sample letters provided by the Human Rights Campaign they wrote 30 letters to their representatives about why passing ENDA was important to them. As these students move steadily toward graduation they know that the challenges of being black in America and searching for a job shouldn’t be compounded by one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The Washington Post reported today that, “The jobless rate for young black men and women is 30.5 percent… race statistically appears to be a bigger factor in their unemployment than age, income or even education.” And, we know from HRC's Equality Forward research project that nearly all LGBT people of color say protections from workplace discrimination are important, an issue strong majorities of all Americans support in opinion polls. Workplace discrimination is an essential bridge building issue and these pictures illustrate LGBT people of color and their allies taking action to ensure ENDA passes! To learn more about Morgan State University’s Rainbow Soul or the HRC Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program go to www.hrc.org/hbcu.
