Update 5/17/19: the Equality Act passed the House. Now we’re taking the fight to the Senate.

On March 13, 2019 bipartisan members of Congress introduced the Equality Act, which would update federal law to include express and enduring nondiscrimination protections for Americans based on sexual orientation and gender identity across virtually every area of daily life. It also includes protections from discrimination based on sex, race, color, national origin, and religion that are additional to those already afforded under federal law.

The Equality Act is the first bill to be introduced in Congress to call so broadly and explicitly for an end to discrimination against LGBT people.

The bill is historic for women also. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination against women in some areas — employment and housing, for example — but it does not prevent discrimination against women by places of public accommodation or recipients of federal funds.