The House OK’d a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
The House OK’d a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
WASHINGTON – The House passed sweeping legislation Friday to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity after an emotional debate that underscored the divide between the two parties
Democrats cast the decades-in-the-making move to change the 1964 Civil Rights Act as a historic step to extend protections to LGBTQ Americans with several gay and bisexual lawmakers emphasizing the need for the bill called the Equality Act Republicans warned of the threat to religious freedom and argued that the measure could undermine women’s rights with men who identify as women taking spots on women’s sports teams and denying them athletics scholarships The bill would prohibit discrimination in employment housing education, jury service and federal financing, protecting people from being fired or harassed for their sexuality or gender identity As Democrats cheered and applauded, the bill passed 236-to-173, with eight Republicans breaking ranks and joining all Democrats in backing the measure. It is unlikely to get a vote in the Republican-led Senate, and the White House has signaled that President Donald Trump would veto the measure if it ever reached his desk.