FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cathy Renna, Communications Director, 917-757-6123, crenna@thetaskforce.org
Washington, DC, June 21, 2023……The following statement can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund:
“Since the introduction of the original Equality Act in 1974, the Task Force has worked with elected officials and community members to fight for federal non-discrimination policies for LGBTQ people. However, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives. This year alone there have been over 500 anti LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures.
Currently, LGBTQ people in 29 states are not protected by anti-discrimination laws. This patchwork of equality is indefensible and in the current hostile climate at the state level, this legislation is more important than ever. We implore Congress to consider the Equality Act as a must-pass bill and use every tool available to ensure the protection of LGBTQ communities. 51% of Americans support civil rights laws that end discrimination against LGBTQ people.
In the United States, 7.2% of adults identify as LGBTQ. Which means that the Equality Act would actively protect almost 20 million LGBTQ individuals in spaces where discrimination is prevalent and intentional. The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination of all people including LGBTQ+, women and people of color and protections would cover employment, religion, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.
We call on the Biden Administration to advocate and rally congressional support to explicitly include LGBTQ people in civil rights laws and expand protections for women, and people of color who are vulnerable to discrimination. Everyone should be able to live without the fear of harassment, violence and discrimination. This is an opportunity for Congress to work together to bring our country closer together. We’ve been waiting too long. The time is now to make the Equality Act a reality and take the country one step closer to living its promise of “liberty and justice for all.”
For more information: https://www.thetaskforceactionfund.org/
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