Protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and gender-nonconforming people from discrimination based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity from discrimination.
The Equality Act protects lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT), and gender-nonconforming people from discrimination based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity from discrimination. It also updates the law to add protections from discrimination because of sex, where those protections are not already in existing law. It also includes protections for those who associate with people vulnerable to unlawful discrimination (for example, children of LGBT people).
The Equality Act prohibits discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity at work and in the context of housing, credit, education, and jury service. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex in programs that receive federal funding and places of public accommodations while also expanding the list of protected sites of public accommodations to include retail stores and online businesses, transportation services like airports, taxis, and bus stations, financial services like banking, and service providers like accountants.
LGBT people across the country remain vulnerable to discrimination daily and too often have little recourse. In many states, same-sex couples have the right to marry but have no explicit nondiscrimination protections under state law. The current patchwork of protections for LGBT people across the country is inadequate. Every person, every employer, and every business should know that discrimination is wrong and illegal, no matter where they live or work. LGBT people and their families need explicit, consistent protections against discrimination under federal law.