Collins, Merkley, Baldwin, Booker Lead Senate Introduction of Landmark, Bipartisan LGBTQ Rights Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced historic, comprehensive federal legislation—the bipartisan Equality Act of 2019—to ban discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. They were joined by 43 of their Senate colleagues, including Senator Angus King (I-ME).  Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“All Americans deserve a fair opportunity to pursue the American dream,” said Senator Collins.  “Throughout my Senate service, I have worked to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, from leading the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to advocating for the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  It is time we ensure that all people are judged on their talents and abilities, and have full access to the services they need and the opportunities they seek.  This bill marks the beginning of that process, and I urge my colleagues to join me as we take steps to build bipartisan consensus around the Equality Act.”

“Freedom is the ability to fully participate in American life. Today, the bell of freedom does not ring for LGBTQ Americans, who still face discrimination in 29 states,” said Senator Merkley. “It is way past time to fully open the doors of opportunity for every American. Let’s pass the Equality Act. Let’s do it this year. And let us rejoice in the bells of freedom ringing for every American.”

“It is just wrong that in a majority of states, LGBTQ Americans are not fully protected from being fired, evicted from their home, or denied services because of who they are or who they love. It is time to end this kind of discrimination because LGBTQ Americans should have the freedom of full equality,” said Senator Baldwin. “Every American deserves the freedom and opportunity to dream the same dreams, chase the same ambitions, and have the same shot at success. We have an opportunity to pass the Equality Act in the House this year and this will be an historic step forward but we can’t mistake progress for victory. That will only come when we bring about the change we need in Washington to get the job done on full equality for every LGBTQ American across our country.”

“We cannot profess to be a nation of liberty and justice for all when our fellow Americans are discriminated against simply because of who they are and who they love,” Senator Booker said. “The Equality Act fixes this injustice by clarifying that federal civil rights law protects LGBT Americans. Every single LGBT American who has ever been made to feel like they don’t belong, who has ever been bullied, abused, or discriminated against because of who they are and who they love should know that, in the halls of Congress and in the highest levels of the federal government, we see you, we hear you, we love you.”

Despite major advances in equality for LGBTQ Americans, including nationwide marriage equality, the majority of states still do not have explicit LGBTQ non-discrimination protection laws.

The Equality Act of 2019 would ensure full federal non-discrimination equality by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to other protected classes, such as race or religion, in existing federal laws.

The bill would explicitly ban discrimination in a host of areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, and federal funding. 

The bill would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, including in public accommodations and federal funding. 

The bill’s leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to preserving existing civil rights protections, including pulling the bill from the floor if necessary to protect the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

In addition to Merkley, Baldwin, Booker, Collins, Schumer, and King, the legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the Equality Act of 2019 is available here.