The Equality Act is a bill proposed by David Cicilline (D-RI) to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include the protection of people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This has been proposed since 2015, but it has been stalled multiple times. 

Many similar pieces of the legislature have been proposed as well since the 1970s. The first proposed bill was in 1974 by Bella Abzug and Ed Koch (Both democrats from New York,) this bill included protections for people regardless of sexual orientation, but not gender identity. Unfortunately, it was not passed in the House of Representatives and was forgotten about until the 1990s.

In 1994, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was introduced. This received little support because it included transgender Americans in the bill to be protected. The only vote it passed was in 2013 in the United States Senate but did not pass the house. 

As of 2021, 4.5% of adults identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, (which is over 14 million people), with 0.3% identifying as transgender. This bill would amend the original bill to protect nearly 15 million Americans from discrimination. The fundamental ideas of the United States were founded upon “Liberty and Justice for All.” This implies that everyone, not just heterosexuals, should be protected under the law. 

Furthermore, public approval of the LGBTQ+ community has never been higher. A recent poll conducted in February stated that only 16% of Americans opposed anti-discrimination laws against sexual orientation. The definitive majority of these people identify with the republican party, as over 97% of Democrats and 80% of independents support these laws.

In conclusion, passing the Equality Act and other bills will protect and defend all Americans, and reinstate democracy and freedom for everyone, regardless of who they are or whom they love. 

By: Michael Glenn