READ American Airlines' Letter to Congress on ENDA

American Airlines, the mega-carrier based out of Fort Worth, Tex., has long been supportive of LGBT employees and customers. Now, they've gone a step further by urging Congress to pass ENDA, which would protect LGBT workers. The Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is set to vote on the bill on Wednesday. Read American's letter to Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa, Chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn., Ranking Member Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) below:

July 8, 2013

Dear Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Alexander:

On behalf of American Airlines, we are proud to express our continued support for S. 815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would extend basic job protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. We are proud to have been the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits, first to implement both sexual orientation and gender identity in our workplace non-discrimination policies, and first to have a recognized LGBT employee resource group – GLEAM.

Our endorsement of ENDA is consistent with our longstanding “Statement of Equal Opportunity,” which reads, “It is the expressed policy of American Airlines to provide equal employment opportunity to everyone without regard to age, race, sex, gender, gender identity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship status, disability, or veteran status.”

The principles fostered by ENDA are consistent with our corporate principles in treating all employees with fairness and respect. We appreciate your consideration and encourage Congress to enact this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Michael Wascom
Managing Director
Government & International Affairs
Michael Waldron
Managing Director
Diversity Strategies & Talent Development