The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced its membership this week, and it’s the largest in the history of the House of Representatives. The support comes in no small part thanks to the efforts of the Caucus’s co-chairs—among this select group Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline—who’ve been reaching out to their fellow Congress members since December when the Blue Wave began arriving on Capital Hill.
Plus newly elected Rep. Chris Pappas from New Hampshire joined the Caucus’s leadership as co-chair earlier this year.
“Fairness and equality are core American values,” said Rep. Cicilline. Unfortunately, as he has shown again and again, the President does not share these ideals. That’s why it’s more important than ever that Members of Congress stand up for the rights of the LGBT community.”
And stand up they are doing, with the eight openly gay LGBT co-chairs, 18 vice chairs and an impressive 155 total members in this historic caucus.
Among the top items on their agenda is The Equality Act, which Cicilline—as the most senior openly gay member of the US House of Representatives and chair of the US policy and communications committee—introduced over the past two sessions. This is the first session, however, when Democrats have the majority, allowing the legislation to likely get a floor vote for the first time.
“As I prepare to re-introduce the Equality Act, I am delighted that so many of my House colleagues—the largest number on record, in fact—are committed to fighting for full LGBT equality as members of this important caucus,” Cicilline said in a March 11 Equality Caucus press release.
As summed up in a Washington Blade article earlier this year, the Equality Act “would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, education, federal programs and credit.
“The bill also seeks to update federal law to include sex in the list of protected classes in public accommodation in addition to expanding the definition of public accommodations to include retail stores, banks, transportation services and health care services. Further, the Equality Act would establish that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act—a 1994 law aimed at protecting religious liberty—can’t be used to enable anti-LGBT discrimination.”
The LGBT Equality Caucus serves as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff and the public on LGBT issues at the federal level. The Caucus works toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence and the improved health and well-being for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
Congressman Cicilline will be the featured speaker at Boston Spirit’s Executive Networking Night on Thursday, May 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Boston Marriott Copley Place. Click here for details and to RSVP (required).
