Washington, DC, November 10, 2015—Today, the White House announced its official endorsement of the Equality Act. If passed, this bill would extend clear federal nondiscrimination protections in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, public funding, credit access and jury service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people.
“We are thrilled to hear that the President has formally endorsed the Equality Act. Americans firmly believe that discrimination is wrong. The passage of this legislation would propel the work for full freedom, justice and equality forward. And while as a nation, we’ve made significant gains to close the gap on discrimination against LGBTQ people, we still have our work cut out for us. It is mind boggling that in many states like Mississippi, a lesbian couple in a loving relationship can get married but run the risk of being fired or denied the right to adopt because of senseless discrimination,” said National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Executive Director Rea Carey. “It is now up to Congress to act on this comprehensive LGBTQ civil rights legislation and ensure that LGBTQ people are treated fairly under the law across the country.”
For decades, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund has been advocating for nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. In 1975, the organization was instrumental in the introduction of the first comprehensive nondiscrimination bill in Congress by the legendary Bella Abzug; continued to push hard for more protections in the states, through the courts, and through important agency rulings; advocated for executive actions to provide more protections for both federal employees and the employees of federal contractors, and will continue to push for state and federal employment nondiscrimination legislation.
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CONTACT:
Jorge Amaro
Media and Public Relations Director
213-842-7564
jamaro@thetaskforce.org