Washington – The House on Thursday passed a bill known as the Equality Act, which would enshrine legal protections for LGBTQ Americans by amending existing civil rights laws to prevent companies and institutions from discriminating against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill passed a 224 to 206 vote, with three Republicans joining the Democrats in the “yes” vote.
“Every American deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. With today’s vote, the House said again that LGBTQ people should enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as all other Americans,” said Democratic Representative David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who led the initiative for the account.
The bill was first approved in the House in 2019, but was not considered by the then Republican-controlled Senate and faced opposition from the Trump administration. Last year, the Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring that the protections guaranteed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on sex extended to discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act would explicitly establish these protections for people based on gender orientation and identity, as opposed to having these safeguards included under the umbrella term “sex”.
The Equality Act would extend protections to cover federally funded programs, employment, housing, loan applications, education and public accommodation.
President Biden pointed to approval of the project as one of his top priorities during his presidential campaign. He issued a statement supporting the bill when it was introduced by House Democrats last week.
“Each person must be treated with dignity and respect, and this bill represents a critical step in ensuring that America lives up to our fundamental values of equality and freedom for all,” said Biden.
The bill is likely to face opposition from the majority of Republicans in the House, who argue that it would violate religious freedoms. Opponents say the project would harm companies or organizations that wish to refuse service to LGBTQ Americans for religious reasons.
The legislation will also face an uphill battle in the Senate, which is divided equally with a 50-50 party split. The bill will require 60 votes to advance in the upper house and it is unclear whether 10 Republican senators would be willing to support the legislation. If Democrats chose to take the controversial step to remove legislative obstruction, this would allow the bill to pass a simple majority.
The project also generated controversy on the side of the Chamber. On Wednesday, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene forced an unsuccessful vote to suspend the House in an effort to delay the passage of the Equality Act. Greene, one of the bill’s greatest opponents, was recently stripped of their committee positions due to their previous controversial comments and promotion of conspiracy theories.
Democratic Congresswoman Marie Newman, whose office is opposite Greene’s, raised a transgender pride flag in front of her office on Wednesday. After Newman, whose daughter is transsexual, posted a video on Twitter her hanging the flag, Greene responded quickly posting your own video mocking Newman’s tweet. Greene put a sign outside his office that said, “There are TWO genders: Male and Female. Trust Science!”
Greene’s critics quickly accused her of being cruel and insensitive to Newman’s family. Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, one of the Republicans who voted to remove Greene from his committee positions, said in a tweet that his action “represents the self-promotion policy driven by hatred and fame at all evil costs”.
Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu also opposed Greene in a tweet, citing a Scientific American column that concludes “sex is not binary, trans people are real.”
In a speech at the House floor on Wednesday, Newman said he was voting to pass the Equality Act in honor of his daughter.
“Without the Equality Act, this nation will never live by its principles of freedom and equality,” said Newman. “I am voting yes for the Equality Act for Evie Newman, my daughter and the strongest and most courageous person I know.”