Today, Out & Equal celebrates the introduction of the Equality Act in the House of Representatives, and calls on both houses of Congress to quickly send the bill to the President’s desk. The Equality Act will provide comprehensive protections for the LGBTQ community in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and jury service.

“It is time for Congress to act,” said Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. “Every day that passes without the Equality Act means our nation’s laws are woefully lagging behind our basic ideals of equality and fairness. LGBTQ Americans are vulnerable to discrimination and having their protections hang in the balance across virtually every sphere of daily life. Nobody should have to live in fear of discrimination because of who we are or who we love.

“Businesses have already figured out that LGBTQ inclusion is essential to success. When LGBTQ employees and their families are protected from discrimination, they can truly thrive in the workplace and beyond. That’s why businesses invest in building cultures of belonging. And that’s why so many of them are on the record in support of the Equality Act.”

“We’ve seen big wins. Last year, the Supreme Court barred employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. President Biden has been using executive actions to fight discrimination. But we deserve more than temporary measures. Turning the Equality Act into the law of the land is absolutely necessary to cement civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans.”

Out & Equal is the premier organization working exclusively on LGBTQ workplace equality. Through our worldwide programs, Fortune 500 partnerships and our annual Workplace Summit conference, we help LGBTQ people thrive and support organizations creating a culture of belonging for all.