NCLR Celebrates the U.S. House of Representatives Passage of the Equality Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2019

Contact: Shannon Minter, 415-624-6071; email sminter@nclrights.org

(Washington, DC) Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a comprehensive federal civil rights bill that would protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in seven critical sectors: credit, education, employment, federal funding, housing, jury service, and public accommodations. Introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR.), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI.) Susan Collins (R-ME), and Corey Booker (D-N.J.) and Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in the House. Today’s vote of 236-173 included 8 Republicans who joined 228 Democrats to vote in favor of the legislation.

Statement from NCLR Senior Policy Counsel Tyrone Hanley:

“The historic passage of the Equality Act in the House reflects a generation of LGBTQ people fighting for their rights and living their lives despite police brutality, discrimination, and rejection. We must end discrimination against the LGBTQ community because it drives LGBTQ into poverty and jail, and discrimination has no place in a fair and just society.”

###

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.NCLRights.org