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Legislative bills

Senate Leader Urges Passage of Equality Act to Ensure LGBTQ+ Protections

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Equality Act, which aims to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. The legislation now awaits Senate approval, where it requires a 60-vote threshold to pass. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a cosponsor of the Senate version, lauded Congressman David Cicilline's (D-RI) leadership and urged the Senate to take up and pass the Equality Act. The bill would explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to longstanding bans on discrimination in employment, education, public accommodations, and jury service.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Equality Act is designed to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and awaits Senate approval, where it requires a 60-vote threshold to pass.
  • Senator Jack Reed, a cosponsor of the Senate version, has praised Congressman David Cicilline's leadership in passing the Equality Act.
  • The bill aims to extend protections against discrimination in employment, education, public accommodations, and jury service to LGBTQ+ Americans.
  • Many states, including Rhode Island, California, Colorado, and Hawaii, have already enacted similar non-discrimination laws.
  • The Equality Act has been endorsed by leading advocacy organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
  • President Joe Biden has issued an executive order reaffirming and broadening protections for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The Equality Act would prevent future Presidents from reversing these protections with a single stroke of the pen.

Statistics:

  • 18 states, including Rhode Island, have already enacted similar non-discrimination laws.
  • 60 votes are required in the Senate to pass the Equality Act.
  • 2020: The US Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
  • 2019: The Equality Act previously passed the House of Representatives but was blocked from consideration in the Senate by then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
  • 2019: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia, have enacted similar non-discrimination laws.

Sources:

  • Statement from Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)
  • "U.S. House Passes Equality Act" by CNN Politics
  • "Equality Act Passes House, Heads to Senate" by The Hill
  • "Human Rights Campaign Endorses Equality Act" by Human Rights Campaign
  • "NAACP Statement on Equality Act" by NAACP
  • "American Civil Liberties Union Supports Equality Act" by American Civil Liberties Union

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