DeGette sponsors bill to ban discrimination on basis of sexual orientation, gender identity

Statement

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) joined with several of her Democratic colleagues today to introduce legislation that would explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The legislation -- known as the Equality Act of 2019 -- would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to grant LGBTQ Americans the same protections that the landmark legislation gives to others in regards to employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations.

"All Americans deserve to be treated equally, no matter the color of their skin, where they're from or who they love," DeGette said. "This bill will finally provide all LGBTQ Americans the protections they deserve, regardless of where they live, where they work, or where they go to school."

Despite significant legal advances over the past several years, including marriage equality, LGBTQ Americans remain vulnerable to discrimination on a daily basis and too often have little recourse.

Fifty percent of the national LGBTQ community live in states where they have the right to marry, but have no explicit non-discrimination protections to protect them in their daily lives.

In most states, a same-sex couple can get married one day and be legally denied service at a restaurant, fired from a job or evicted from their apartment the next -- based solely on their sexual orientation.

The Equality Act would reaffirm any previous federal court and administrative agency interpretations that the prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sex includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In areas where sex discrimination is not already prohibited, the bill would amend the existing law to bar discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Equality Act has bipartisan support from nearly 240 members of Congress, and overwhelming support of the American people - with more than 7 in 10 supporting its passage.

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