Democrats reintroduce “long-overdue” Equality Act

The intersex-inclusive Progressive Pride flag
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country, Congressional Democrats have reintroduced the Equality Act.

The bill would update existing federal civil rights legislation to explicitly ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a number of areas, including employment, education, access to credit, housing, and public accommodations.

At a Wednesday news conference, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) (one of the bill’s lead sponsors) noted the timing of the Equality Act’s reintroduction.

“We are filing this bill during Pride Month, a time of celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on a time when being out was nearly impossible,” Takano said. “We cannot allow extremists in our country to once again normalize homophobia and attacks on LGBTQ people. We can’t turn away from the discrimination that still exists for so many LGBTQ people today.”

As The Hill notes, fewer than half of all U.S. states currently have laws on the books prohibiting…

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