Sarbanes Co-Sponsors Bill to End Discrimination Against LGBTQ Americans

Statement

Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today co-sponsored and introduced the Equality Act (H.R. 5), a bill to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans across several key areas, including education, employment, housing, public spaces and federal financial services.

"The piecemeal and patchwork nature of civil rights law in America does not go far enough to fully guard against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation," said Congressman Sarbanes. "No one should be fired from their job, evicted from their home or asked to leave a restaurant because of who they are or who they love. This incredibly important bill will establish a comprehensive set of national anti-discrimination protections that will make our country more equitable for all Americans."

The Equality Act would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under existing civil rights laws. The bill would also strengthen the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination in public spaces and in federally funded programs on the basis of sex. Importantly, the Equality Act would expand the types of public spaces and services covered under current law to include retail, banks, legal services and transportation.

To learn more about the Equality Act, see here.

For frequently asked questions about the bill, see here.

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