Equality Florida Calls For Swift Passage of The Equality Act
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2021
Equality Florida Calls For Swift Passage of The Equality Act
ST PETERSBURG, FL - Equality Florida applauds the re-introduction of the Equality Act, HR 5, and calls for its swift passage in the U.S. House of Representatives. The historic legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and a number of other federal civil rights statutes, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Equality Act is the most comprehensive LGBTQ civil rights legislation ever filed in Congress and expands protections into essential areas of life including education, credit and even jury service.
“Congress has an opportunity to make history and codify equality for all into law,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director. “Passage of the Equality Act would mark a historic step forward for the rights of LGBTQ Americans and a reimagining of the potential of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It’s time to take action on equality in America, and we stand ready to mobilize Floridians to get the Equality Act over the finish line.”
Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people enjoy broad support across the country, with 83% of Americans in favor of the protections the Equality Act would grant. Recent polling shows support for these protections spanning across party lines, with 59% of Republican primary voters in Florida, many of whom self-identified as “very conservative”, expressing support for nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community.
“Strong support for nondiscrimination protections illustrates that equality is an issue of people, not partisanship or political posturing,” said Smith. “The nation understands that everyone should be able to live, work, and play without fear of discrimination. Now our leaders must join the American people on the right side of history.”
The LGBTQ community still faces discrimination on a daily basis. Opponents of equality continue to file discriminatory legislation aimed at eroding existing protections for LGBTQ people and their families. Passage of the Equality Act is a critical next step in the fight against bigotry and the work to protect our most vulnerable communities.
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Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.