Norton to Host Press Conference with Religious, Reproductive, and LGBT Coalition to Defend D.C. Anti-Discrimination Bills From Congressional Attacks, Monday

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The day before a House committee seeks to overturn a District of Columbia bill protecting employees from discrimination based on their reproductive health decisions, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a press conference with a coalition of local and national organizations to defend the city's right to home rule on Monday, April 20, at a time and location to be determined. This week, disapproval resolutions were introduced to overturn the D.C. Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act (RHNDA) and the Human Rights Amendment Act (HRAA). The RHNDA disapproval resolution is scheduled to be marked up on Tuesday, April 21, at 5:00 p.m., by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. RHNDA would prohibit employers from discriminating against an employee, spouse or dependent based on private reproductive health decisions. HRAA would repeal a congressionally imposed rider that permits schools in D.C. to deny LGBT students equal access to school facilities and services.

Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Catholics for Choice will speak for the coalition at the press conference, and other national and local coalition groups will be in attendance to show support and answer questions.

Among the representatives of the coalition expected to attend include the National Women's Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Human Rights Campaign, DC Vote, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.