Hello,

Today is an important day for LGBTQ people nationwide … and it must also be our call to action from the District of Columbia to Congress ahead of an expected vote next week.

The Equality Act (H.R. 5), which would provide clear and consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people at the federal level, was just reintroduced in Congress with broad support from more than two-thirds of voters, hundreds of members of Congress and an unprecedented 335+ businesses.

By adding sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics to existing civil rights law, this legislation would provide permanent protections under federal law for all Americans in vital areas of life: housing, access to public spaces, credit, education, jury service and federally-funded programs. 

That is not all. It would also add sex non-discrimination protections to public spaces and services, as well as federally-funded programs, and modernize the public spaces and services covered in current law to include retail stores, services such as banks and legal services and transportation services. This bill strengthens protections for all people, including women, religious minorities and people of color. 

Everyone deserves to live free from discrimination no matter who they are or whom they love, end of story. With today’s reintroduction, we take a crucial first step forward into a future that can deliver on that promise. That is why I am reaching out to you.

For this bill to pass, it requires all of us to take action. Join the Human Rights Campaign in sending a message to your members of Congress in support of the Equality Act today. It takes just a few moments and makes all the difference ahead of the upcoming vote.

As dedicated members and supporters like you know, passing the Equality Act has been a mission-critical priority for the Human Rights Campaign since its first introduction in 2015. 

We have been working with our allies on Capitol Hill and in the White House (when they occupy it) for years — and you have been there with us. Over 122,000 of you signed on as community co-sponsors and countless others reached out to your members of Congress. Thank you.

Your hard work helped pass the Equality Act in the United States House of Representatives for the first time in 2019. And, together, we can do that again and go even further.

If we come together in a resounding chorus of support for the Equality Act, we can help make its protections the law of the land for you, for me and for millions of LGBTQ people nationwide, two-thirds of whom report experiencing discrimination in their everyday lives.

Achieving LGBTQ equality is a unifying issue for our nation. As I said earlier, we are working towards a vote on the House floor in the coming days — it will be a crucial opportunity for us to organize, educate and build grassroots support as the bill moves to the Senate for consideration. We must do all we can in these days and weeks ahead, so we need everyone to stay engaged.

We will be in touch with more soon. For now, please be sure to send your message of support of the Equality Act to Congress. Thank you for being a part of the Human Rights Campaign.

In Unity,