Democrats introduce the LGBT 'Equality Act'

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) simultaneously introduced legislation in the Senate and House Thursday that would provide federal nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. Amanda Terkel reports on the Equality Act:

Their bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of already protected classes (race, color, sex, religion and national origin). 

In other words, it would protect LGBT people from discrimination in credit, education, employment, housing, federal financial assistance, jury service and public accommodations. (Some states already have their own laws on the books.) 

At the introduction, Merkley and Cicilline were flanked by other LGBT lawmakers and representatives from all the organizations one would expect, including Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign and Winnie Stachelberg of the Center for American Progress.

"Despite how far we've come, we cannot mistake our progress for victory," Stachelberg said. "While marriage equality is the law of the land nationwide, a majority of states still lack clear protections from discrimination of LGBT people."

However, Chris Johnson reports that the Equality Act is causing consternation among some in the LGBT community who generally fear the idea of opening up the Civil Rights Act to amendments.

Heather Cronk, co-director of the LGBT grassroots group GetEQUAL, has previously objected to the idea of amending the Civil Rights Act to enact LGBT non-discrimination protections and told the Blade on Tuesday she’s “not sure” if her organization would be able to support the Equality Act.

Cronk cited concerns that the proposal would open up the Civil Rights Act to amendments, which she said is “way past dangerous,” but also said the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect LGBT people.

But others view it as an opportunity to fill in some holes in the original piece of landmark legislation. Sex discrimination, for instance, is not covered in public accommodations even though race, color, religion and national origin are.

The Equality Act would fix that, adding sex as well as sexual orientation and gender identity to Title II of the law.

4:20 PM PT:

The Equality Act will mean full federal equality for LGBT Americans & stronger anti-discrimination protections for everyone. Past time. -H

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2015