WASHINGTON – The GLASS Caucus, the official LGBTQ staff association of the United States Senate, issued the following statement on the results of the 2019 Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative Survey:

“We commend the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative in collecting LGBTQ data on this year’s survey. Their efforts in including LGBTQ staff in their survey is a step in the right direction. We look forward to continued action towards improving the collection of this important data for all Senate offices,” said the Senate GLASS Caucus Steering Committee Co-Chairs.

On July 10, 2019, the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative publicly released its third Democratic staff survey as of June 30, 2019. This report provides a snapshot of the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among Senate Democratic staff. 

The 2017 and 2018 survey reports, however, did not collect LGBTQ staff data. In response, the GLASS Caucus proactively reached out to the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative urgingthem to include and help shape a LGBTQ-specific item in this year’s survey. GLASS is pleased to have played a role in this first step towards capturing this important data and looks forward to continued action to improving upon these efforts.

Earlier this year, the Senate GLASS Caucus Steering Committee issued a letter to all new Senate offices requesting they include in their workplace policy manuals language that protects LGBTQ employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. GLASS issued a similar letter in 2018 to all Senate offices. 

Currently, the United States Senate, as a body, does not have any standing rules or procedures that prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity—leaving the task of guaranteeing protections to individual offices and committees. The data in this report provides insight why these protections are necessary for a significant number of Senate staff.

As a non-partisan organization, the Senate GLASS Caucus is prepared to serve as a resource for all Senate offices and welcomes the opportunity to form policies that create an improved and welcoming workplace for all Senate employees.

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WASHINGTON – Today, the bipartisan GLASS Caucus Steering Committee called for better protections for Senate LGBTQ employees. In a letter sent to all new Senate offices the Steering Committee requested that their workplace policy manuals include language that protects LGBTQ employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

“In the spirit of promoting a more inclusive and affirming workplace in the U.S. Senate, the GLASS Caucus is committed to serve as a resource for all offices. We aim to help offices address workplace culture and create safe spaces for all LGBTQ individuals and their allies. We firmly believe steps like these will help create an atmosphere where employees can better serve their colleagues and principals in carrying out the Senate’s business,” said the GLASS Co-Chairs.

The GLASS Caucus issued a similar letter last year asking for LGBTQ workplace protections. Currently, the United States Senate, as a body, does not have any standing rules or procedures that prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity—leaving the task of guaranteeing protections to individual offices and committees.

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WASHINGTON – Today the Steering Committee of the Senate GLASS Caucus, the professional association for LGBTQ+ Senate Staff and their allies, sent a Dear Colleague letter calling on Senate offices to commit to implementing non-discrimination policies protecting staffers from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

“The Senate GLASS Caucus requests that each U.S. Senate office commit to the inclusion of a clause or language prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression within their office policy manuals and hiring processes,” the letter says.

“We applaud the Senate offices that presently formally prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, and we strongly urge those that do not yet include such language in their internal office policy documents to swiftly adopt these provisions to ensure a safe and respectful workplace,” the letter continues.

Currently, no Senate-wide rules or procedures prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in the United States Senate.

The text of the full letter is available here.

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WASHINGTON – Today the Steering Committee of the Senate GLASS Caucus, the professional association for LGBTQ+ Senate Staff and their allies, released the following statement following the publication of survey results conducted by the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative:

“We applaud the efforts of the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative to give an accurate depiction of racial diversity across Democratic Senate Offices. However, while these results show many Senators taking positive steps toward a more representative Capitol Hill, this important survey still paints only part of the picture. The fact remains that LGBTQ+ representation — particularly for LGBTQ+ people of color — is an ongoing, unresolved challenge.

“We strongly encourage both the Democratic and Republican caucuses to make equal opportunity for LGBTQ+ staff a priority and to expand the parameters of such surveys to include items related to sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. The GLASS Caucus stands ready to work with any and all offices to create a more inclusive and affirming Senate workplace for LGBTQ+ staff.”  

The results of the survey may be found here.

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WASHINGTON – Today the Senate GLASS Caucus, the association of LGBTQ Senate staff, announced its 2018 Steering Committee:

• Co-chair: Robert Curis (Sen. Debbie Stabenow)
• Co-chair: Tré Easton (Sen. Patty Murray)
• Treasurer: Peter Narby (Sen. Jeff Merkley)
• Secretary: Trelaine Ito (Sen. Brian Schatz)
• Social Engagement Director: Hans Hansen (Senate Sergeant at Arms)
• Membership Engagement Director: Russell Page (Sen. Martin Heinrich)
• Communications Director: Wyatt Larkin (Sen. Mark Warner)

The new leadership team was elected by a February vote of GLASS Caucus members, after which the Steering Committee met and elected its co-chairs and other officers. Following the meeting, the GLASS Caucus co-chairs Robert Curis and Tré Easton released the following statement.

“We look forward to a productive year of enhancing membership engagement, creating new opportunities for our members, and serving as a resource to make the Senate a more affirming and inclusive workplace,” the co-chairs said. “To that end, the GLASS Caucus will make it a priority to improve the representation of LGBTQ staffers – of queer women and people of color, in particular – on Capitol Hill. Many offices on both sides of the aisle can and should do more to make their staffs more representative of their constituencies, and we stand ready to help in those important efforts.”

The GLASS Caucus is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization open to all whose purpose is to raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ community, increase visibility and promote the welfare and dignity of LGBTQ employees of the United States Senate by providing a safe environment for social interaction and professional development.

The GLASS Caucus currently has two vacancies on the Steering Committee. In an effort to provide inclusive and representative leadership, GLASS encourages LGBTQ women, Republicans, staffers of color, and other underrepresented staff to apply.

Staff interested in becoming involved with the GLASS Caucus can visit glasscaucus.org or email info@glasscaucus.org.

 

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For Immediate Release
December 8, 2017
info@glasscaucus.org

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association, Congressional Black Associates, Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, Congressional South Asian American Staff Association, Congressional Vegetarian Staff Association, Italian-American Congressional Staff Association, LGBT Congressional Staff Association, Professional Administrative Managers Staff Organization, Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus, Senate GLASS Caucus, and Women’s Congressional Staff Association together issued the following joint statement urging Congress to take additional action regarding workplace sexual harassment:

“Working for Congress is an honor and a privilege for all of us. We work hard to support Members of the House and Senate in their service to the constituents they represent. The #MeToo movement has sparked an important national conversation and brought to light cases of sexual harassment at all levels of Capitol Hill, including between members and staff, between senior staff and the people they manage, and between colleagues. It also made clear what many of us already knew: the current disjointed process for reporting sexual harassment discourages victims from coming forward and has allowed a culture where this type of abuse goes unchecked.

“The legislation that the House and Senate passed to require sexual harassment and workplace rights training for all Members and staff is a step in the right direction. Holding Members of Congress accountable for their actions is critical and we need to reform the current reporting process to protect survivors. Members of Congress and their staff should be held to high standards and our workplace should set an example. It is our hope that Congress takes sexual harassment seriously and considers legislation to address these issues.”

For Immediate Release
October 6, 2017
info@glasscaucus.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Steering Committee of the GLASS Caucus, the professional association for LGBTQ Senate Staff and their allies, released the following statement in response to “religious liberty”  and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guidance recently issued by the Department of Justice:

“Yesterday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued new guidance to U.S. Attorneys reversing an interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that had previously extended nondiscrimination protections for transgender Americans. And today, the Department of Justice issued a memo to government agencies that expanded ‘religious liberty’ considerations for government hiring, contracting, and programming, allowing organizations and businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans.

“Both of these new directives undermine the fundamental American principle that all people should be treated fairly and equally throughout society, whether at a place of business, when receiving goods and services, or even here in the halls of Congress. The Steering Committee of the GLASS Caucus calls on the President and the Attorney General to commit themselves to fostering an open and inclusive society that protects all Americans from discrimination, and where religious liberties do not circumvent Americans’ constitutional right to equal treatment under the law.”

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