House Adopts the Equality Act 236 – 173; Next Action Is In the Senate

By MUUSJN on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019

 Urge Our U.S. Senators to Be Champions To Promote YES Votes on the Equality Act

(Both are Equality Act Co-sponsors)

 Senator Debbie Stabenow: 1-202-224-4822 & Senator Gary Peters: 1-202-224-6221

BACKGROUND 

On May 17th the U.S. House voted 236 – 173 to adopt the Equality Act. Eight Republicans joined all House Democrats in support HR 5, a comprehensive bill that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people based on housing, employment, public accommodations, jury service, federal funding and education.  ADOPTION OF THIS BILL IS A HISTORIC MILESTONE! This was the first time this bill was reported out of committee after it was first introduced in 2015. Thanks to all who called their U.S. Representatives to support this legislation.   

The bill, introduced in the Senate by Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  All 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee and 35 other Senators are now Equality Act co-sponsors. If two of 12 Republicans on the Judiciary committee were to support the bill it could pass out of committee.  Unfortunately, there are two major barriers to passage in the Senate:  Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Lindsay Graham and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Senator Graham has been a “consistent opponent of everything from marriage equality to protecting LGBT workers from employment discrimination”, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). As far as Senator McConnell, the HRC indicated he has a 0% rating in terms of his support for LGBT rights.

So how does one influence Senator McConnell, Senator Graham and Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to say YES to the Equality Act?  Three thoughts:

  1. Inform them about the views of people in their own states; 
  2. Pressure these Senators to do the right thing — to affirm LGBTQ rights; and
  3. ELECT NEW SENATORS that respect the rights of LGBTQ people!

PEOPLE ARE READY FOR CHANGE EVEN IF POLITICIANS AREN’T

  • KENTUCKY:  In Senator McConnell’s home state, 84% of Kentucky residents support non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according recent research from the Williams Institute. 
  • SOUTH CAROLINA: According to a 2017 Public Religion Research Institute opinion poll, 67% of South Carolina residents supported an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • THE USA: According to a April 2019 Quinnipiac poll, 92% of all Americans DON’T think that “employers should be allowed to fire someone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity”. This poll also showed that 70% of Americans are “open to electing a president who is a gay man”.  

DISCRIMINATION IS REAL AND PERSISTENT

Despite significant advances, LGBTQ people across the country remain vulnerable to discrimination on a daily basis and have too little recourse. Millions of LGBTQ Americans have the right to marry, but no explicit non-discrimination protections in other areas of daily life. The Equality Act extends to the LGBTQ community the same protections already available to other Americans. The Trump administration has declared its opposition to The Equality Act after bowing to pressure from conservative organizations such as the Family Research Council, March for Life and Heritage Action. Conservatives argue this Act would violate the “religious freedom” of people of faith. 

MUUSJN, a religious based organization, in alliance with other faith groups and with allies in women’s and LGBTQ justice movements, strongly DISAGREES. Our religion calls us to show respect for the dignity of ALL people. Religion should not be used as an excuse to discriminate against women and people from LGBTQ communities. 

CALL OUR MICHIGAN SENATORS & TELL THEM: 

  1. Thank them for co-sponsoring the Equality Act;
  2. Urge them to explain to their Senate colleagues that the Equality Act prohibits discrimination and that discrimination, against any person, violates our core American values; 
  3. Ask our Senators to urge Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the Equality Act (HR 5).

Thank You for taking Action!

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