We, the undersigned, a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) state and local organizations, make the following statement in response to the introduction of the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Equality Act is a significant step forward for the LGBTQ community, and we are committed to mobilizing our communities to urge Congress to swiftly pass this important bill. We’ll be working in these lawmakers’ backyards to make sure they know this is about people, not politics.
The Equality Act, a landmark LGBTQ nondiscrimination and civil rights bill, would update existing federal laws to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Like all people, LGBTQ Americans need to access legal services and go to the store, bank, hospital, and other public places. The Equality Act would strengthen existing protections for everyone, including women and people of color, by updating the public spaces and services covered in current law. It would also codify the recent Supreme Court decision in Bostock by explicitly stating that existing federal civil rights laws that prohibit sex discrimination also protect LGBTQ people. The Equality Act is a vital next step in ensuring the promise of equal opportunity and freedom is provided to all of us, regardless of what state, city, or town we call home.
Although 21 states and more than 330 cities have passed LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, half of LGBTQ people live in the 29 states that still lack express, comprehensive statewide laws. As organizations working in the states and cities that LGBTQ people call home, we know this patchwork of protections is unsustainable and leaves too many people behind.
This isn’t just about federal politics—it’s about people, including our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow worshippers in cities and states outside of Washington, D.C. We are hearing from Americans in communities across the country, and they are demanding their leaders prioritize passing the Equality Act. America is ready. From California to New York to Alaska to Florida, we, the organizations working directly with the people of this country, remain united in our efforts to finish the job. We compel Congress to act now to protect the people who elected them.
The need for comprehensive protections for the LGBTQ community is clear. Including LGBTQ Americans in civil rights protections would mark the most sweeping legislative victory for LGBTQ people in American history. The Equality Act will immeasurably improve the day-to-day lives of LGBTQ community members in every zip code and bring the nation closer to its promise of liberty and justice for all. As state and local organizations, we commit to doing our part to ensure the public’s demand for passage of the Equality Act is heard all across the country.
A future is in sight where no American in any part of the country is left vulnerable to discrimination because of who they are or who they love. We stand united to make it so.
Affirmations
Alaskans Together for Equality
All Under One Roof LGBT Advocates of Southeastern Idaho
Alliance For Full Acceptance
Atlanta Pride Committee
Basic Rights Oregon
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
Brave Space Alliance
Brooklyn Community Pride Center
Campaign for Southern Equality
CANDLE
Center on Halsted
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Colors+
Compass LGBTQ Community Center
Damien Center
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project
Equal Rights Washington
Equality Arizona
Equality California
Equality Community Center
Equality Delaware
Equality Florida
Equality Illinois
Equality Kansas
Equality Maine
Equality Michigan
Equality Nevada
Equality New Mexico
Equality North Carolina
Equality Ohio Education Fund
Equality South Dakota
Equality Texas
Equality Utah
Equality Virginia
Erie County Democratic Party LGBTQIA+ Caucus
Erie Mayor’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Council
Erie Sisters and Brothers
Fair Wisconsin
Fairness Alliance and Information Resources of New York, Inc. (FAIRNY)
Fairness Campaign
Fairness West Virginia
Forum for Equality
Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center
Freedom Oklahoma
FreeState Justice
Full Spectrum Health LCC
Garden State Equality
Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center
Gender Benders
Georgia Equality
Grand Rapids Pride Center
Great Lakes Bay Pride
Greater Erie Alliance for Equality (GEAE)
Harriet Hancock Center Foundation
Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation
Henderson Equality Center
Hillcrest Children’s Center
Hudson Pride Center
Identity, Inc.
Indiana Youth Group
Inside Out Youth Services
Jackson Pride Center
Jacksonville Coalition for Equality
JASMYN
Lancaster LGBTQ+ Coalition
LGBT Center of Raleigh
LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc.
LGBTQ Center of Bay County
LGBTQ+ Allies Lake County
Louisiana Trans Advocates
Mass Equality
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
Mississippi Rising Coalition
Montana Human Rights Network
Naples Pride
Nashville LGBT Chamber
New Hampshire Stonewall Democrats
NEW Pride Agenda
North County LGBTQ Resource Center
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Northwest Arkansas Equality, Inc.
NW PA Pride Alliance
Oasis Center Inc
Oklahomans for Equality
One Colorado
ONE Community
One Iowa
One-n-ten
Out Boulder County
OUT MetroWest
OutCenter of Southwest Michigan
OutFront Kalamazoo
OutFront Minnesota
OutNebraska
Panhandle Equality
Pennsylvania Equality Project
Pennsylvania Youth Congress
PFLAG Hastings
PFLAG Nashville
PGH Equality Center
Phoenix Pride
Pride Center of New Jersey
Pride Center of Staten Island
Pride Center West Texas
Pride Community Services Organization
Prism United
PROMO
Queer Asterisk
Queer Connect, Inc.
QWELL Community Foundation
Rainbow Center
Rainbow Rose Center
Resource Center
Rogue Action Center
Rural Outright
Ryan Sallans, Inc.
Sacramento LGBT Community Center
SAGE Metro Detroit
SAVE
Seacoast Outright
Shippensburg University Pride Center
Silver State Equality
SOJOURN
Southwest Center
Spencer Pride, Inc.
St. Pete Pride
Stonewall Columbus
Tennessee Equality Project
The Alaska Center Education Fund
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
The Human Rights Alliance Santa Fe
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading
The LGBTQ+ Community Center of Southern Nevada
The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center
The Montrose Center
The Pride Center at Equality Park
The Source LGBT+ Center
The Spahr Center
The Spectrum Center
The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative
Time Out Youth
TransAction NH
TransFamily of NWPA
TransFamily Support Services
Transgender Michigan
TransOhio
Triangle Community Center
Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA)
Washington County Gay Straight Alliance, Inc.
Waves Ahead Corp
Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center
William Way LGBT Community Center
Wyoming Equality
Youth OUTright WNC Inc
