PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Equality Forum 2016 released a letter sent to the Donald Trump campaign requesting the candidate’s position on the Equality Act. The Trump campaign was requested to respond by Monday, June 27.
In the letter, Malcolm Lazin, Equality Forum’s Executive Director, wrote:
“On November 8th, voters will elect the 45th President of the United States. Millions of those voters will be members, allies and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We noted Mr. Trump’s statement in response to the Orlando massacre that he is a “real friend” of the LGBT community.
“Equality Forum is a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Part of the mission is to inform the public on the position of candidates for public office on LGBT civil rights issues. Equality Forum neither endorses a party nor a candidate for public elective office.
“In 28 states, LGBT employees lack workplace protections. Likewise, there is no workplace protection based on sexual orientation or gender identity pursuant to the federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA).
“The Equality Act, a bipartisan bill was introduced last year in the Senate and United State House of Representatives. The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit and the judicial system.
“Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has publicly pledged her support of the Equality Act.
“Does Mr. Trump support or oppose the passage of the Equality Act?”
As of Monday’s deadline the Trump campaign had yet to respond to the Equality Forum’s request. Equality Forum Executive Director Malcolm Lazin responded by stating:
“With a deadline of Monday, June 27, we continue to wait to hear back from the campaign as to whether Mr. Trump supports or opposes this monumental LGBT legislation. Mr. Trump states that he is a friend of the LGBT community. His silence on the Equality Act is deafening to LGBT Americans, our families and allies. We continue to hope that he will provide bipartisan leadership on the passage of the Equality Act.”
Equality Forum 2016 recently announced that this year’s summit will be held July 25th through July 28th during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Equality Forum 2016 will bring together elected officials, newsmakers and LGBT experts for content-rich panel discussions on the state and future of the LGBT movement, as well as two historic marker dedications and two award ceremonies.
