FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Less than four weeks after the United States Supreme Court ruled for nationwide marriage equality, LGBTQ champions in Congress – Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin and Cory Booker along with Congressman David Cicilline – today introduced the Equality Act, a comprehensive bill that would provide critical and much-needed protections to the LGBTQ community. This legislation — which amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — addresses anti-LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federal funding, jury service, credit, and other areas. It also includes associational protections covering the children of LGBTQ people, which would greatly benefit our families.
Statement from Emily Hecht-McGowan, Director of Public Policy at Family Equality Council:
“Marriage equality was a historic win, but LGBTQ people and their children still face discrimination in crucial aspects of American life such as employment, housing, and public accommodations. The current patchwork of limited protections means that in many states, LGBTQ Americans can legally be fired for putting up a wedding photo at work, denied an opportunity to shop for a home, or refused service in a restaurant. This comprehensive approach – amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – ensures that the law will treat LGBTQ people and our families the same as every other protected class. When passed, the Equality Act will go a long way toward stopping ill-treatment of LGBTQ people and our families.”
Statement from Gabriel Blau, Executive Director at Family Equality Council:
“The Equality Act is a statement about the direction of this country and the need to move family values forward. Families and children have been central to the fight for LGBTQ rights and bring into sharp relief the need for ensuring protection under the law, beyond marriage. Critically, this bill includes protections for those associated with LGBTQ people — including our children. The bill prohibits discrimination against these young people, who often experience harassment at school, in social settings, and in public accommodations. It is high time that LGBTQ people and their families feel free to be themselves at work and in their communities. This bill is another great advance as we move closer to full legal and lived equality.”
For TV, newspaper and web interviews with Hecht-McGowan or Blau, contact Media Manager Bradley Jacobs at 917-324-8771 or via email at bjacobs@familyequality.org.
What’s next after marriage equality? See our post-marriage Family Values Forward platform: www.familyequality.org/familyvaluesforward
###
About Family Equality Council: Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in this country today and their six million children of all ages. We are changing attitudes and policies to ensure that all families are respected, loved, and celebrated—including families with parents who are LGBTQ. We are a community of parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren that reaches across this country. For over 30 years we have raised our children and raised our voices toward fairness for all families.
Contact:
Bradley Jacobs
Media Manager
917-324-8771
bjacobs@familyequality.org