On Thursday, the House passed the Equality Act — again — which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The legislation, if enacted, would formally include protections for LGBTQ people in legislation including the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act. This occasion was the second time that the House, where Democrats are in control, passed the legislation — but in 2019, when it passed it the first time, Republicans were in control of the Senate, dimming the prospects for it to move forward. Now, Democrats control the Senate.
I am immensely proud of my daughter.
Our transgender flag not only represents her but the millions of Americans that deserve not to be bullied or discriminated against by anyone – let alone a sitting member of Congress.
Enough with the hate, let’s pass the #EqualityAct. pic.twitter.com/QKDJuJxz2q
— Congresswoman Marie Newman (@RepMarieNewman) February 25, 2021
In the Senate, because of a rule allowing for a so-called filibuster of legislation, 10 Republicans would need to support moving the Equality Act to a vote in order for that vote to actually take place. It’s unclear whether this might happen, although Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is actually a past co-sponsor of the legislation, so it’s possible. In the House on Thursday, three Republicans — including Reps. John Katko (N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), and Tom Reed (N.Y.) — voted in favor of the legislation.
If your work in Congress isn’t to serve ALL your constituents, you have no place here.
We’re coming off the worst year on record for transphobic violence. This is a human rights crisis. We’re passing the Equality Act because our LGBTQ+ communities need to be protected. Period.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) February 25, 2021
Republicans including Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) have angrily ranted against the Equality Act. Recently, Greene characterized the legislation as a so-called attack against God and so-called believers, which is ridiculous. Anti-discrimination isn’t an attack against God! It’s a basic step to ensure that bigots and otherwise hateful individuals don’t get a free pass to deny the provision of basic human rights to certain people.
Breaking: The House has voted to pass the Equality Act, a far-reaching measure that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The vote was 224 to 206. 3 Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the Act.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2021
Greene has established herself firmly on the side of bigotry — this week, after Rep. Marie Newman (D-Ill.) put up a transgender pride flag outside of her office, Greene put an anti-transgender rights sign outsider of her own nearby office. Greene’s sign said “trust the science” — but science confirms that transgender identity isn’t some kind of make-believe! It’s basic reality, which Greene denies in favor of her pseudo-scientific nonsense. The difference between biological sex and gender identity is not a difficult concept, so there’s really no legitimate arguing with people like Greene who refuse to acknowledge the basic reality that human identity is more complicated than pink vs. blue.
Rep. Sharice Davids presided over the House floor as the chamber prepared to vote on the Equality Act. Davids is the first openly LGBT Native American elected to Congress and the first openly lesbian person elected to Congress from Kansas.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2021
