NYC Gazette

Historic ‘Equality Act’ Would Amend ‘Civil Rights Act of 1964’ to Extend Non-Discrimination Protections to the LGBTQ+ Community 

LGBTQ+ Rights Increasingly Under Attack from Extremist Republicans Nationwide

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) and fellow members of the LBGTQIA+ Equality Caucus in introducing the ‘Equality Act’ to extend the non-discrimination protections in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to the LGBTQIA+ community. This legislation would provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

Over one in four LGBTQIA+ employees reported experiencing at least one form of employment discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity at some point in their lives, with nearly half of transgender employees reporting having experienced discrimination. A 2022 survey by the Center for American Progress found that more than 1 in 3 LGBTQIA+ adults faced discrimination in the previous year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary adults.

“As extremist Republicans across the nation target the LGBTQIA+ community, it is imperative that we institute comprehensive, decisive protections for LGBTQ+ individuals at the federal level,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “For too long, the rights of LGBTQIA+ people have been subject to the whims of discriminatory politicians and overreaching courts. I am incredibly proud to join my colleagues in fighting to put an end to anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination by working towards long-overdue passage of the Equality Act.”

Currently, there is no federal law that explicitly prohibits LGBTQIA+ discrimination, leaving the community uniquely vulnerable in states across the country.

The Equality Act would also strengthen protections for women as the bill further explicitly clarifies that sex discrimination also includes discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes; pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and sex characteristics, including intersex traits.

As a member of the House Equality Caucus, Congressman Goldman is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of the LGBTQ+ community at every turn. Earlier this month, Congressman Goldman took a stand against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in federal housing for seniors.

Original source can be found here.