The Equality Act, which President Joe Biden promised to introduce in the first 100 days of his Presidency, is heading to Congress next week.
The Washington Blade says House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer revealed the news in a “Dear Colleague” letter to fellow legislators sent Tuesday evening.
Maryland Democrat Hoyer says it will be one of two pieces of legislation for the House to debate in addition to the Covid-relief American Rescue Plan.
“Other legislation coming to the floor next week are two bills that passed through the House last Congress: a wilderness package and the Equality Act, which will end legal discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.”
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The Equality Act will be introduced by Democratic Representative David Cicilline (RI) and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR). The act has been repeatedly introduced since 2015, but in previous years, Democrats did not control both chambers of Congress. Last year’s Equality Act legislation sailed through the House by 236-173 votes but stalled in the Senate.
Although last year’s Supreme Court ruling (Bostock v. Clayton County) extended civil rights protections to LGBTQ people in the workplace (albeit with some religious exemptions), the Equality Act will extend similar safeguards in other areas. This will include housing, education, jury service, public accommodation, and federal programs.
This is a great and long overdue step. Now, let’s make sure future presidents can’t roll this progress back with the stroke of a pen. We must pass the Equality Act to ensure this victory is permanent. https://t.co/YIrsd9LhHx
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) February 16, 2021
Although a House vote on the Equality Act is likely to pass, becoming law is still not guaranteed. The Senate is now split 50/50 between Republicans and Democrats.
Besides a slim chance that not every Democrat will support it (West Virginia’s Senator Joe Manchin was the lone Democrat to voice opposition when legislation was introduced in 2019, voicing concerns over religious liberty), more likely is an attempt by Republicans to filibuster it.
To ensure the latter does not happen, ten Republicans would also need to support the act. Advocates had been hoping that Senator Mitt Romney (UT) might be one of them. However, he has already indicated this is not the case.
Late on Tuesday, reports Washington Blade, A Romney spokesperson said, “Sen. Romney believes that strong religious liberty protections are essential to any legislation on this issue, and since those provisions are absent from this particular bill, he is not able to support it.”
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White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in early February the President “stands by” his pledge to bring in the Equality Act in his first 100 days but said Congress would need to take action first.
Kangol2
Here we go again. An important piece of legislation that will help ensure equality across the board may stall because of Republicans. Why are so many in the GOP so opposed to equality for all Americans? There may be a handful of Senate Republican votes to join all 50 (or 49, if Manchin refuses to support), but will 10 step forward to shut down a filibuster? If not, why won’t they do this? Should some people’s anti-LGBTQ religious beliefs trump equality for all American, including LGBTQ people?
Openminded
Somehow, both parties have evolved into strict partisan support on almost all issues. When the leaders of either parties tell their party members how to vote, they follow lock step in line. We have seen how the GOP has censured some of their members who actually voted their conscience instead of with their party line on Trumps impeachment. That same treatment happens on both sides of the aisle. We so desperately need a strong independent party that would bust up both the Dems and Repubs for a while and make them understand, no matter what party you stand with, you are elected to speak for the people, not the party.
Hillers
Odd, yet not surprising, how they couch their bigotry in religious freedom, but blindly look the other way with a President who’s had multiple wives and a checkered sexual history. I often wonder if these same people regularly donate to recognized charities and volunteer their time for the less fortunate.
Duchess of Bellwether
From the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 10. Why should my liberty be subject to the judgement of someone else’s conscience?
GayEGO
Marriage Equality happened with the NO party Republicans in control so now, the Equality Act will likely pass!