Plain Language Summary
# Equality Act Summary **What It Would Do:** The Equality Act would expand federal civil rights protections to explicitly ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations (like stores and restaurants), schools, and programs that receive federal funding. While the Supreme Court recently ruled that existing sex discrimination laws cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, this bill would make those protections clearer and extend them more broadly across other areas of daily life. **Who It Affects:** The bill would affect LGBTQ+ individuals seeking equal access to jobs, housing, healthcare, education, and public services. It would also affect businesses, landlords, schools, and other organizations by establishing clear legal standards for what constitutes discrimination in these areas. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee in the House of Representatives and has not yet been voted on.
It was introduced by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) in the 119th Congress. The bill's passage would require approval from both the House and Senate, as well as the President's signature.
CRS Official Summary
Equality ActThis bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings.Specifically, the bill expands Title II and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit public accommodations and federally funded programs, respectively, from discriminating based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It also includes stores, transit services, recreational facilities, and establishments that provide health care, accounting, or legal services as public accommodations under Title II.The bill also expands Title IV (desegregation of public schools) and Title VII (employment discrimination) to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. (The Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination based on sex also prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.)The bill similarly expands the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing) to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by creditors and with respect to jury selection.The bill defines sex for purposes of the aforementioned provisions to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Financial Services, House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.