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This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the Equality Act in a continued effort to push back against escalated attacks from the Trump Administration, MAGA Republicans, and state legislatures on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide.

In states across the country, over 850 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been filed so far this year—the most in U.S. history. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive legislation to enshrine civil rights protections for our LGBTQ+ friends and neighbors in federal law.

"The relentless barrage of attacks against the LGBT+ community by Republicans across the country continue the erosion of civil rights for Americans," said Rep. Escobar. "That's why I'm proud to support the Equality Act, which strengthens federal protections against discrimination. Regardless of who you are or who you love, we must never allow our fellow Americans to be treated as second-class citizens."

The Equality Act would explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics in key areas of life, including employment, housing, public accommodations, federally funded programs, education, jury selection, and credit. Specifically, the Equality Act amends existing civil rights laws by either adding “sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)” as protected characteristics or, where sex is already included as a protected characteristic, by explicitly clarifying that unlawful sex discrimination includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Equality Act therefore strengthens protections not just for LGBT+ people but also women, as it ensures nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sex in federally funded programs and public accommodations – two areas of law where sex discrimination is currently not prohibited.

The bill further explicitly clarifies that sex discrimination also includes discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes; pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition’ and sex characteristics, including intersex traits. 

The bill also expands the list of businesses and services that would be subject to the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s public accommodations provisions, thus strengthening protections for all communities covered by the law, including people of color. 

Lastly, the bill ensures the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be used to challenge the application or enforcement of civil rights law being amended by the Equality Act. 

The Equality Act was first introduced in Congress in 2015. Congresswoman Escobar has been a proud supporter (cosponsor) since her first term.

To read a summary of the bill, click here.

To read the complete bill text, click here.