The Equality Act

This Pride month, we’ve seen the Supreme Court affirm employment protections for LGBTQIA+ people under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While this is a significant victory for LGBTQIA+ communities, we cannot rely solely on the Supreme Court to protect their rights. We must pass the Equality Act in the Senate to ensure that LGBTQIA+ people are legally and explicitly protected from discrimination in all areas of their lives.  

The Equality Act would amend existing laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act and the Jury Selection and Services Act and include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. This legislation would also strengthen anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals in public spaces like retail stores, and for services like banking and transportation. After being passed in the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 236-173, the Equality Act currently sits in Mitch McConnell’s infamous legislative “graveyard,” where it has been blocked by the Republican leadership.   

With the recent Supreme Court decision, the passing of the Equality Act makes more sense than ever. We need all activists to call their Senators, especially those in the Republican Party, and demand that they bring the Equality Act to the Senate floor and vote YES. Together, we can see that this critical piece of legislation is passed. We have the opportunity to enshrine these non-discrimination protections as federal law and protect the health, safety, and livelihoods of LGBTQIA+ people across the nation. 

Sample Messaging:  

You can find your Senators and their contact information here and their social media handles here. Use these sample messages to tell them that their constituents want to see S. 788, The Equality Act, passed in the Senate.  

Phone Call: “Hello Senator […], my name is […] and I am calling to urge you to bring the Equality Act to the Senate floor and vote “Yes” on this important legislation. LGBTQIA+ people must be explicitly protected from discrimination in all areas of life. As a Senator, you pledge to serve your constituents, so you must protect the lives of your LGBTQIA+ constituents and guarantee them these basic rights and protections. I hope to see you vote yes on the Equality Act soon. Thank you.”  

Tweet: As a resident of the state of […], I am urging @[…] to bring the #EqualityAct to the Senate floor and vote YES. We must guarantee non-discrimination protections for #LGBTQIA people in our nation. I hope to see you vote “yes” on this necessary legislation. 

Letter: Dear Senator […], my name is […] and I am writing to urge you to bring the Equality Act to the Senate floor and vote “Yes” on this necessary legislation. LGBTQIA+ people must be explicitly protected from discrimination in all areas of life. As a Senator, you have committed to serving your constituents, and I hope you will protect the LGBTQIA+ constituents in our state by guaranteeing them these basic rights and protections. I hope to see you vote yes on the Equality Act soon. Thank you.