Warner, Kaine & Colleagues Reintroduce Equality Act to Enshrine Protections for LGBTQ+ Americans Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their colleagues in reintroducing the Equality Act—historic, comprehensive legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination, just as religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination are already illegal everywhere in the United States. The legislation comes as over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across America this year—a new record.
“It’s disturbing to see more and more states pass regressive laws that encroach on the rights and liberties of LBGTQ+ Americans,” said Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this comprehensive legislation to extend anti-discrimination protections to the community because nobody should face discrimination based on who they are or whom they love.”
“Americans shouldn’t be denied housing, fired from their job, or refused service at a restaurant because of who they are or whom they love,” said Kaine. “During Pride Month, I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination. I’ll never stop fighting until we reach our North Star of equality.”
The Equality Act would amend federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a host of areas, such as employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. It would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.
Warner and Kaine have long worked to protect LGBTQ+ rights. Last year, the senators helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law to ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages are recognized by every state, and urged the Virginia General Assembly to protect marriage equality by repealing the ban on same-sex marriage that remains in Virginia’s constitution. The senators were also previously among the 212 members of Congress who signed an amicus brief arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court that same-sex married couples should have the same legal security, rights, and responsibilities that federal law provides all other married couples.
The full text of the Equality Act can be found here as introduced in the Senate and here as introduced in the House. A summary of the bill can be found here.
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