19 February 2021

Now is the time to modernize our civil rights laws: One Way Here in Mesa, AZ ...Another Way in Washington D.C.

In Mesa yesterday at a Study Session >
Image result for Mesa AZ non-discrimination ordinance 2021
 
 
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In The Nation's Capitol >
Image result for Equality Act 2021
Local Nondiscrimination Ordinances
Data current as of 02/11/2021
In the absence of federal or state nondiscrimination protections, many municipalities have taken action to protect their LGBTQ friends, family, and neighbors from discrimination. These local nondiscrimination ordinances (NDOs) do so by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity in private employment, housing, and/or public accommodations.
As of January 1, 2021, there are 21 states, Washington D.C. (see state nondiscrimination laws here), and at least 330 municipalities that fully and explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations. For a full listing of these municipalities, click the "city and county listing" tab above.
This map shows the percent of each state’s population with comprehensive protections: protected from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity, in all three of private employment, housing, and public accommodations. While the vast majority of local ordinances are fully comprehensive, some ordinances protect only in certain areas (such as housing) or only based on sexual orientation. The portion of the public protected only by these partial ordinances are not included here. For more information about the scope of a state's coverage, including partial coverage, please see the city and county tab, or the detailed information in each state’s profile by clicking on that state in the map below.
United States Map
*In Kansas, FloridaMichigan, and Pennsylvania, the state's employment nondiscrimination law does not explicitly enumerate sexual orientation or gender identity, but the state's agency or attorney general has stated it explicitly interprets the state's existing protections against sex discrimination to include protections for both sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations. For more detail, see the state nondiscrimination law maps.
*Utah's nondiscrimination law explicitly enumerates both sexual orientation and gender identity, but only in employment and housing, not public accommodations. Since this map displays "ideal" coverage (all three of employment, housing, and public accommodations), Utah is shown here as being without full or ideal protections.
*Wisconsin's nondiscrimination law explicitly enumerates sexual orientation, but not gender identity. As a result, 100% of Wisconsin residents are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation, but residents are only protected from discrimination based on gender identity if their local city or county has enacted such protections.
Note that enforcement mechanisms within these ordinances varies by jurisdiction.
Note also that some jurisdictions may prohibit discrimination in public employment (i.e., government employees only), but only ordinances that prohibit discrimination in private employment are included here.

Percent of Adult LGBTQ Population Covered by Laws

*Note: These percentages reflect estimates of the LGBTQ adult population living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Estimates of the LGBTQ adult population in the five inhabited U.S. territories are not available, and so cannot be reflected here.

Click here for a list of city and county ordinances by state.

The Equality Act seeks to add protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws in key areas such as employment, credit, housing, federally-funded programs, and public accommodations. It also prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to enable anti-LGBT discrimination.
 

House To Vote On LGBT Protections Bill Equality Act Next Week                                      

  • By Carlos Santoscoy  February 17, 2021

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland, on Tuesday announced that the House will vote on the Equality Act next week.

In a “Dear Colleague” letter, Hoyer said that the House will take up the legislation next week, the Washington Blade reported.

“Other legislation coming to the floor next week are two bills that passed through the House last Congress: a wilderness package and the Equality Act, which will end legal discrimination against LGBTQ Americans,” wrote Hoyer, who manages floor proceedings in the House.

". . .The Equality Act seeks to add protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws in key areas such as employment, credit, housing, federally-funded programs, and public accommodations. It also prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to enable anti-LGBT discrimination.
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Mitt Romney 'Not Able To Support' LGBT Protections Bill Equality Act                               

  • By Carlos Santoscoy February 18, 2021            

Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican, on Tuesday announced that he would oppose passage of the Equality Act.

The Equality Act seeks to add protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws in key areas such as employment, credit, housing, federally-funded programs, and public accommodations. It also prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to enable anti-LGBT discrimination.

In a statement given to the Washington Blade, a Romney spokesperson said that the senator was opposed

“Sen. Romney believes that strong religious liberty protections are essential to any legislation on this issue, and since those provisions are absent from this particular bill, he is not able to support it,” Arielle Mueller said in an email.

The legislation is a priority for the Biden administration.

While support in the House, which passed the legislation last year, is strong, the Equality Act has yet to be voted on in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed for bills to avoid the threat of a filibuster. It remains unclear whether the bill's sponsors can find 10 Republican votes in the chamber.

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Rep. David Cicilline, Senator Jeff Merkley Introduce LGBT Protections Bill Equality Act            

  • By Carlos Santoscoy                        February 19, 2021            

Democrats on Thursday announced the introduction of the Equality Act.

The Equality Act seeks to add protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws in key areas such as employment, credit, housing, federally-funded programs, and public accommodations. It also prohibits the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to enable anti-LGBT discrimination.

Rhode Island Representative David Cicilline, who is openly gay, and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley sponsored the legislation.

“In 2021, every American should be treated with respect and dignity,” Cicilline said in a statement. “Yet, in most states, LGBTQ people can be discriminated against because of who they are, or who they love. It is past time for that to change.”

“I'm proud to introduce the Equality Act today, and I look forward to continue to work with Senator Merkley to get this bill signed into law,” he added.

“All of us go to work and school, go home, and go shopping, and none of us should have to keep our families hidden or pretend to be someone we're not to do those things,” Merkley said. “But in 29 states, Americans can still be evicted, be thrown out of a restaurant, or be denied a loan because of who they are or whom they love. We all love the vision of America as a land of freedom and equality, but are we willing to take the steps to make that vision closer to reality?”

“Let's make 2021 the year the Equality Act crosses the finish line and is signed into law by President Biden,” he added.

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Briefing Room      
Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Introduction of the Equality Act in Congress     
Statements and Releases     
I applaud Congressman David Cicilline and the entire Congressional Equality Caucus for introducing the Equality Act in the House of Representatives yesterday, and I urge Congress to swiftly pass this historic legislation. Every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and this bill represents a critical step toward ensuring that America lives up to our foundational values of equality and freedom for all.
Full equality has been denied to LGBTQ+ Americans and their families for far too long. Despite the extraordinary progress the LGBTQ+ community has made to secure their basic civil rights, discrimination is still rampant in many areas of our society. The Equality Act provides long overdue federal civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, locking in critical safeguards in our housing, education, public services, and lending systems — and codifying the courage and resilience of the LGBTQ+ movement into enduring law.
On my first day in office, I was proud to sign an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. I directed agencies to implement the Supreme Court’s Bostock ruling, and fully enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now, it’s time for Congress to secure these protections once and for all by passing the Equality Act — because no one should ever face discrimination or live in fear because of who they are or whom they love.
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