Should Congress prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity?
Bill Summary
H.R. 5 prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in access to public facilities, education, housing, credit, federal funding, jury selection, and employment. The bill codifies a supreme court ruling in Bostock V. Clayton County (2020) which ruled against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline (Democrat, Rhode Island, District 1)
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Opponents say
• “Sen. Romney believes that strong religious liberty protections are essential to any legislation on this issue, and since those provisions are absent from this particular bill, he is not able to support it."
Source: Office of Senator Mitt Romney (Republican, Utah)
• “Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith.” Source: Representative Vicky Hartzler(Republican, Missouri, District 4)
• “Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith.” Source: Representative Vicky Hartzler(Republican, Missouri, District 4)
Proponents say
• "It is vital that Congress pass the Equality Act to codify the Bostock decision to ensure protection in key areas of life including where existing civil rights laws do not have protections on the basis of sex."
Source: Alphonso David (President of the Human Rights Campaign)
• "Every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and this bill represents a critical step toward ensuring that America lives up to our foundational values of equality and freedom for all." Source: President Joseph Biden (Democrat, President of the United States)
• "Democrats are committed to delivering results for the people, and that means all the people. No American should ever be treated as less than equal in the eyes of the law." Source: Representative David Cicilline (Democrat, Rhode Island, District 1)
• "Every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and this bill represents a critical step toward ensuring that America lives up to our foundational values of equality and freedom for all." Source: President Joseph Biden (Democrat, President of the United States)
• "Democrats are committed to delivering results for the people, and that means all the people. No American should ever be treated as less than equal in the eyes of the law." Source: Representative David Cicilline (Democrat, Rhode Island, District 1)
- Cicilline, Merkley Announce Introduction of Equality Act (Press Release)
- Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Introduction of the Equality Act in Congress (Press Release)
- Romney Declares Opposition to LGBTQ Equality Act (Washington Blade)
- Equality Act introduced in House to provide sweeping LGBTQ protections (Washington Post)
- House expected to vote on sweeping LGBTQ rights bill next week (NBC)
