House Passes Equality Act in a 'Severe Blow' to Religious Liberty, Women's Rights
A landmark bill that would place sexual orientation and gender identity along race in the nation’s anti-discrimination laws passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday and advanced to the Senate, where its prospects are far less certain.
H.R. 5, also known as the Equality Act, passed the House 224 - 206 along a mostly party-line vote, with three Republicans joining 221 Democrats in support. All 206 “no” votes came from Republicans.
Opponents say it would have a devastating impact on women’s rights and religious freedom.
Although the House previously passed the bill in 2019, Thursday’s passage marked the first time it had passed with Democrats in control of the House, the Senate and the White House – a trifecta that gives it a legitimate chance of becoming law.
The Senate has never passed the Equality Act. Politico reported it is unlikely to pass that body in its current form.
President Biden applauded the bill’s passage.
“Transgender rights are human rights – and the House made that clear today by passing the Equality Act,” he tweeted. “Now it's time for the Senate to do the same.”
The bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – a law that was passed to confront racial discrimination – by adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected classes for public places, education and employment.
It guarantees that individuals cannot be denied access “to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.”
It would force schools to allow biological boys who identify as girls to play on girls’ teams.
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A landmark bill that would place sexual orientation and gender identity along race in the nation’s anti-discrimination laws passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday and advanced to the Senate, where its prospects are far less certain.
H.R. 5, also known as the Equality Act, passed the House 224 - 206 along a mostly party-line vote, with three Republicans joining 221 Democrats in support. All 206 “no” votes came from Republicans.
Opponents say it would have a devastating impact on women’s rights and religious freedom.
Although the House previously passed the bill in 2019, Thursday’s passage marked the first time it had passed with Democrats in control of the House, the Senate and the White House – a trifecta that gives it a legitimate chance of becoming law.
The Senate has never passed the Equality Act. Politico reported it is unlikely to pass that body in its current form.
President Biden applauded the bill’s passage.
“Transgender rights are human rights – and the House made that clear today by passing the Equality Act,” he tweeted. “Now it's time for the Senate to do the same.”
The bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – a law that was passed to confront racial discrimination – by adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of protected classes for public places, education and employment.
It guarantees that individuals cannot be denied access “to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.”
It would force schools to allow biological boys who identify as girls to play on girls’ teams.
continued...
