Action Alert: Call Your Representative to Urge Support for the Equality Act NOW
February 23, 2021
A call to your member of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for the landmark Equality Act is urgently needed. We hear that a floor vote is imminent, and we must assure passage of this long overdue measure.
The Equality Act would incorporate in federal statutes provisions that would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQIA+ persons in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces, federally funded programs and jury service.
Even though last year the Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, we still need to make sure that those protections apply to other important aspects of life.
The Equality Act will do that.
Polls show that 70 percent of Americans support the Equality Act (H.R. 5 – Rep. David Cicilline). In fact, the House passed this legislation last Congress, but the Republican-controlled Senate refused to take it up. The bill has strong support from Democrats, but we hope to see Republican House members join in voting for it. More details appear in the statement issued today by NOW President Christian F. Nunes.
There is a good chance that we can see the Senate adopt the Equality Act this time around, but we need to make our voices heard.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR CALL – Especially if your House member is Republican. Your message is simple: Vote for the Equality Act, H.R. 5 – It is just basic fairness. Let the member know that you will be watching how they vote on this critically important civil rights measure.
The Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. The list of members and their office numbers is at Representatives | house.gov You can always send an email message via their official website, but considering that time is short, a call would have more impact.
Thank you for all that you do for NOW.