Comprehensive Federal LGBT Legal Protections
The Equality Act, which was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin, and Cory Booker, and Representatives David Cicilline and John Lewis, establishes explicit protections against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of employment, housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education and jury service. In addition, it would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federal funding and access to public places.
“We applaud and enthusiastically endorse the Equality Act — the strongest LGBT bill ever written,” said Tico Almeida of Freedom to Work. ”But LGBT Americans should not wait for Congress to pass this bill when today victims of LGBT discrimination can and should file claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, and other federal laws that ban sex discrimination.”
News and Blog Posts
- USA Today: "Senate to Vote on Gay Rights Bill by Thanksgiving," October 28, 2013
- "Labor Dept: Same-Sex Spouses can Participate in Benefit Plans," September 2013
- Wall Street Journal: "U.S. Extends Family Leave to Same-Sex Spouses," August 2013
- MSNBC: "Senate committee: You Can’t be Fired for Being Gay," July 10, 2013
- "Freedom to Work Doubles Down on Push for LGBT Workplace Protections," June 17, 2013
- "Complaint Accuses Exxon Mobil of Anti-Gay Bias," Associated Press, May 2013
- "Advocacy Group Accuses Exxon of Anti-Gay Hiring Practices," Los Angeles Times, May 2013
- New York Times: "Exxon Defies Calls to Add Gays to Anti-Bias Policy," May 2013
Reports
- "$250 Billion In Federal Contracts Doled Out In States With No LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws," according to report by Freedom to Work, Movement Advancement Project, and other leading LGBT organizations
- "A Broken Bargain: Discrimination, Fewer Benefits and More Taxes for LGBT Workers," 2013 Report by the Movement Advancement Project, Human Rights Campaign, Center for American Progress, and partners including Freedom to Work
- Center for Work-Life Policy Study: “The Power of Out” (July 2011)