“We’re
disgusted, but certainly not surprised, by Donald Trump’s announcement
that he opposes the Equality Act, which is supported by seven in ten
Americans and more than two hundred major businesses,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “By
opposing this common sense civil rights legislation, Donald Trump is
ensuring that LGBTQ people remain at risk of being fired or denied
housing in a majority of states. The LGBTQ community, and all Americans
for that matter, deserve a president with the courage and decency to
sign this bill into law, and we will continue the urgent work to pass
the Equality Act and replace Donald Trump with a pro-equality president
who will sign it into law.”
The bipartisan Equality Act, first introduced in Congress in July 2015, is sponsored by Representatives
David Cicilline (D-RI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in the House and
Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in the Senate.
The
Equality Act was re-introduced in the new U.S. House in March with
growing, unprecedented support. More than 200 major corporations have
joined HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Recent polling finds that a growing majority of Americans
— including Republicans, Democrats and Independents — support LGBTQ
non-discrimination protections and LGBTQ equality. In a historic move,
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Manufacturers announced their support for the Equality Act. A recent survey by PRRI found that nearly seven in 10 Americans support laws like the Equality Act. More than 360 statewide and national organizations have endorsed the legislation, including social justice, religious, medical and child welfare organizations.
Discrimination is a real and persistent problem for LGBTQ Americans. HRC polling has found that nearly two-thirds of self-identified LGBTQ Americans report experiencing discrimination. Currently, 50 percent of LGBTQ Americans
live in the 30 states that still lack statewide legal
non-discrimination protections, leaving their residents and visitors at
risk of being fired, denied housing, or refused service because of who
they are or whom they love. The Equality Act would finally guarantee
existing civil rights laws apply to LGBTQ people by providing clear,
consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or
gender identity across key areas of life, while expanding and enhancing
protections for people of color, women and religious minorities.