White House announces support for Equality Act (VIDEO)

The White House announced today that the Obama Administration has endorsed the Equality Act.

The White House endorsed legislation Tuesday that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, plunging into the next front in the national battle over LGBT rights, reports The Washington Post.

Speaking to reporters, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said,  “Upon that review it is now clear that the administration strongly supports the Equality Act,” he said. “That bill is historic legislation that would advance the cause of equality for millions of Americans. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that the legislative process produces a result that balances both the bedrock principles of civil rights, like those I’ve just described, with the religious liberty that we hold dear in this country.”

A majority of Americans support extending non-discrimination protections to LGBT Americans. By an impressive 78 percent to 16 percent, voters support protecting LGBT people from discrimination, including a 64 percent majority of Republicans.

“The unfortunate reality is that, while LGBT Americans can legally get married, millions remain at risk of being fired or denied services for who they are or who they love because the majority of states still lack explicit, comprehensive non-discrimination protections,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “By endorsing the Equality Act, the White House sent a strong message that it’s time to put the politics of discrimination behind us once and for all. Now it’s time for Congress to act. Everyone should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living and provide for their families, including people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.”

The Equality Act has also received strong, early support from some of America’s top companies, which joined the Human Rights Campaign in announcing support of the Equality Act since it was introduced in July — including Apple, Dow Chemical Company, IBM, General Mills, Levi Strauss & Co, Microsoft, Orbitz, Symantec and Target.