With mid-term elections approaching, a mounting number of important legislation awaiting Congressional action and a shrinking window to get it all accomplished, the NGLCC will be updating its members, affiliate chambers and corporate partners on the current state of pending business and LGBT issues as part of its quarterly Direct Connection Series.
Call participants will hear from Diego Miguel Sanchez, legislative assistant for LGBT, health care, labor, veterans and census issues for U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman, Barney Frank, and Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the NGLCC, on legislative and administrative actions surrounding issues of LGBT equality issues the health of America's small businesses and their role in the country's economic recovery.
On the agenda for the call, which is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. EST, are discussions on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, the Small Business Jobs Act, LGBT inclusion in federal contracting, among other policy issues.
"This call will be an excellent opportunity for the members, affiliate chambers and corporate partners to get an inside look at some of the most important LGBT and small business issues facing Congress and the Obama administration," Nelson said.
Before Frank, D-Mass., hired Sanchez as his legislative assistant in late 2008, Sanchez served on the Human Rights Campaign Business Council and as director of public relations and external affairs for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Sanchez is a long-time transgender rights advocate, and was the first openly transgender person to work on Capitol Hill.
"We are thrilled to have Diego join us for the Direct Connection call," Nelson said. "Given his position and experience with LGBT issues, I'm certain that participants in the call will come away with a wealth of insight on these important topics and what they can do to push these important bills over the finish line."
To RSVP for the September 28th Direct Connection Teleconference and for call-in information, e-mail Joanna Dees at jdees@nglcc.org.
For more information on the NGLCC's Direct Connection Series and past teleconference calls, click here.
