Today’s Action: Urge Congress to pass the Equality Act

While federal law forbids discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin, there is national protection against discrimination for LGBTQ Americans. In fact, in 28 states, it is legal to fire someone or kick them out of their home for being gay.

Last week the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple. The case should have paved the way for assuring protection and basic human decency and equality for the 10 million LGBTQ individuals. Instead, the court focused on a technicality and granted the baker the right to discriminate (for now), and SCOTUS pushed off the decision to give full protection for the LGBTQ community.

Americans shouldn’t have to wait for the courts to do what is right. We need to pass a federal law against LGBTQ discrimination. We need the Equality Act.

Call or email your members of Congress and tell them to support the Equality Act, and give anti-discrimination protections for all LGBTQ people under federal law.

The Equality Act was introduced to Congress in 2017, with a record number of cosponsors. It would amend existing Civil Rights law (everything that currently protects against discrimination on the basis of race, religion, and national origin) to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

With a right-leaning Supreme Court and Trump in office appointing appalling judges across the country, we cannot depend on the courts to secure protections that the LGBTQ community so badly needs. We must urge Congress to step up and take action NOW.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your members of Congress and demand they support and push for the Equality Act, securing anti-discrimination law for sexual orientation and gender identity. For one famous couple, this was a battle over a cake, but for millions of LGBTQ Americans, this is a battle for the most basic of rights.