One bright fact poking through the chaos of last week’s shameful and tragic attack on the US Capitol is the increasing likelihood of the passage of the LGBTQ Equality Act, introduced by Rhode Island’s Congressman David Cicilline.
The Act, as summed up on the Human Rights Campaign website, provides “crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s existing civil rights laws.” Nationwide protections to cover employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, jury services and more.
Because newly elected US Senators from Georgia Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff’s historic win, also last week, swings Senate leadership back to the Democrats, the Equality Act can finally see the light of day in the Senate. The House passed the Act last May, and unlike Trump, Preside-Elect Joe Biden supports it, and supports it strongly: “Biden will make enactment of the Equality Act during his first 100 days as President a top legislative priority,” states the Biden website.
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had blocked the Equality Act from the Senate floor. But incoming Leader Chuck Schumer has repeatedly called for its passage, “Because NO American should face discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love,” Schumer tweeted upon its passage in the House.
And Warnock and Ossoff not only swing the balance in the Act’s favor; they both share Biden’s and Schumer’s support for it:
“Both Ossoff and Warnock will prioritize the passage of the Equality Act if elected,” notes HRC President Alphonso David.
As stated on Warnock’s website:
[H]e will fight for and support the Equality Act to protect members of the LGBTQ+ community from housing, financial, and employment discrimination; advocate for gender inclusive policies and resources to help at-risk LGBTQ+ youth who face higher risks of homelessness and other challenges; and push to ban discriminatory federal practices that stop trans people from serving in our armed forces.
Warnock would also fight to ensure that there is fairness and equality in health care, working to expand access to medications like PrEP and other life saving care for all communities.
And from Ossoff’s:
In the Senate, I’ll fight for equal rights and equal protection under the law for all Americans, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
I will defend marriage equality and the right of gay couples to adopt children.
I will support the Equality Act and vote to expand Federal anti-discrimination statutes to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation.
I will oppose efforts to re-impose the ban on military service by openly gay Americans. Any American’s desire to serve and defend their country should be honored without discrimination.
I’ll support strengthening anti-bullying programs for LGBTQ youth, and I will defend and support the safety and human rights of transgender Americans.
The LGBTQ community will be able to count on me to stand with them as a strong and outspoken ally.
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