Federal Equality Act would protect LGBT people from discrimination

Today the Equality Act was introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in the U.S. Senate and Representative Cicilline (D-RI) in the U.S. House of Representatives, including co-sponsors Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and John Lewis (D-GA).

The Equality Act would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and gender nonconforming people based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity from discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit, public accommodations, jury service, and federally funded programs. It also updates the law to add protections from discrimination on the basis of sex where those protections are not already in existing law. It includes protections for those who associate with others who are targets of unlawful discrimination (for example, children of LGBT people).

Support for this non-discrimination was swift with three major corporations expressing their backing.

Statements in support of the legislation was swift:

Chad Griffin,  president HRC: “The time has come for full federal equality — nothing more, nothing less. While America is now a marriage equality nation, the tragic reality is that millions of LGBT Americans face persistent discrimination in their lives each and every day. In most states in this country, a couple who gets married at 10 AM is at risk of being fired from their jobs by noon and evicted from their home by 2 PM, simply for posting their wedding photos online. Congress must pass the Equality Act to ensure that LGBT people and their families are just as safe at work or at school as they are in their marriages. This bill will guarantee all LGBT Americans have the clear, permanent, and explicit protections from discrimination that they deserve.”

Ted Olson and David Boies, the bipartisan legal team that represented the plaintiffs in the Hollingsworth v. Perry case that challenged California’s Proposition 8, and was ultimately heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, came out in support of a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination law: “The introduction of the Equality Act marks a historic moment for our country. The patchwork of protections in this country has provided a crazy quilt of laws, threatening the livelihood of many of the same couples who fought so long and so hard to have their marriages recognized. That’s why we support the idea of a comprehensive approach to non-discrimination protections that would embrace LGBT people as other groups who are protected by our civil rights laws. We urge Republicans and Democrats to once again come together to support this important legislation that provides the same protections to LGBT people as other Americans.”

Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality: “This is a historic moment for transgender people. Everyone deserves to live, learn, work, have a home, shop in stores, and participate in society without discrimination, and the majority of Americans agree. This bill is especially important as it comes on the heels of unprecedented public attention on trans lives. Despite that, trans people have faced record rates of violence–just this week, we learned of the 10th trans woman of color murdered in 2015. For trans people, equality is a matter of life and death. Congress must understand this urgency as they work toward passing this landmark legislation.

Debra L. Ness, president, National Partnership for Women & Families: “The Equality Act would extend critical civil rights protections to millions of women and LGBT people in this country, too many of whom suffer blatant discrimination simply because of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. It is especially appalling that, with marriage equality finally the law of the land, individuals can still be fired or denied housing because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. And it is outrageous that women are still refused equal protection in public spaces and federally funded programs, despite having had equal employment protections in place for 50 years. The country can – and must – do better.”

Rebecca Isaacs, executive director, Equality Federation: “My college-age daughter and her friends can only imagine a world where everyone is equal. The time has come. The Equality Act would provide permanent protections so that every American has a fair chance to earn a living and provide for their families, including LGBT people. Employees should be hired, fired and promoted based on their performance, not their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Randi Weingarten, president American Federation of Teachers: “Every morning, many of us pledge allegiance to our flag—and that pledge ends “with liberty and justice for all.” We cannot settle for anything less than full equality for all people, particularly for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, who for too long have faced discrimination and violence just for being who they are. We are making progress, but there is more work to do in our fight for full equality. From talking with LGBT educators, nurses, other healthcare workers and public service workers throughout the country, and as a gay woman myself, I know the importance of ensuring that there are comprehensive federal nondiscrimination protections in place.”

Congresswoman Barbara Lee: “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Equality Act. This important legislation would provide broad protections for members of the LGBT community from discrimination. Today’s legislation is an important next step toward full equality for all Americans, regardless of who they love or who they are. All Americans deserve a fair chance to live the American dream without fear of constant harassment or discrimination. Yet, LGBT Americans in 31 states currently lack protections from discrimination. They can be fired, evicted, denied loans and rejected from jury duty simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That’s simply wrong. With the introduction of the Equality Act, we must recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of ending discrimination, in all its forms, against LGBT individuals and against all Americans.”

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene: “Our country had a historic Pride Month, with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on marriage equality that finally put our country on the right side of history,” DelBene said. “But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, there is much more work to do to end discrimination and ensure LGBT Americans have full equality under the law. In many states, people who are LGBT can still be fired, denied credit and evicted from their home simply based on who they are and who they love. This is wrong, and I will continue to fight until all Americans have equal rights and protections.”

Justin Nelson, co-founder and president, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce: “Being open for business means being open to everyone. When LGBT workers and entrepreneurs are protected, they are empowered to bring their whole selves to work, which increases productivity and innovation, raises performance levels, and retains top LGBT talent. This bill highlights many of the inequities that have kept tax-paying, law-abiding LGBT citizens from achieving the American Dream. We hope this bill ignites essential conversations that benefit LGBT business owners, including protection from discrimination in government contracting alongside other diverse-owned businesses.”

Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: “Civil rights can only be measured by a single yardstick and our nation’s blunt denial of basic protections to LGBT Americans – in housing, credit, education, employment, and public accommodations – can no longer be tolerated. The LGBT community has gotten only piecemeal solutions to their second-class citizenship— like marriage equality, coverage under hate crimes legislation, and open participation in military service – and we stand united in agreement that the time for comprehensive federal LGBT civil rights protections is now. The Equality Act presents an opportunity to codify these protections into law nationwide and we look forward to working toward passage of this bill or similar legislation that helps to realize the promise of non-discrimination and dignity for LGBT Americans.”