Cosponsors Equality Act to end housing, employment, other discrimination
WASHINGTON, DC – Seeking to end discrimination against the LGBT community, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL09) has signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act. This legislation will ban discrimination against LGBT individuals in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life.
“Discrimination, in all forms, is wrong,” Rep. Grayson said. “No one should ever be discriminated against, or denied basic services, based on who he or she is or whom he or she loves. The Equality Act will ensure that LGBT Americans are afforded the same basic protections under the law as everyone else. I am proud to help lead this fight in the House of Representatives.”
The Equality Act, sponsored by Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) in the House and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in the Senate, will amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation or gender identity in public accommodations, federal funding, education, employment, housing, credit, and jury service.
“We have seen great strides in the march towards equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters,” Congressman Grayson added. “Now is the time to take the next step and ensure that everyone is afforded the full protection of the law against all forms of discrimination.”
Despite last month’s Supreme Court ruling that affirmed marriage equality, discrimination against LGBT individuals remains legal in most states. Today, only 19 states and the District of Columbia offer employment and housing protections for the LGBT community. Three other states have prohibitions on discrimination based solely on sexual orientation.
Only 17 states and the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination for public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Another four prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. Just 14 states and the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in education. And one state, Wisconsin, prohibits it based on sexual orientation only.
A study conducted earlier this year by the non-partisan Human Rights Campaign found that 63% of LGBT Americans have experienced discrimination in their personal lives. Another study found that one out of every 10 lesbian, gay, and bisexual workers has been fired from a job because of sexual orientation.
