Bill > S1503

This bill, known as the Equality Act, seeks to comprehensively expand civil rights protections to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity across multiple areas of American life. The bill amends several existing civil rights laws to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics, covering public accommodations, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit opportunities, and jury selection. Key provisions include protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in places like restaurants, stores, transportation services, healthcare facilities, and other public spaces, as well as ensuring equal treatment in employment, housing, and credit applications. The bill defines terms like "gender identity" as an individual's gender-related identity, appearance, or characteristics, regardless of their assigned sex at birth. It also addresses intersectional discrimination, recognizing that individuals may face prejudice based on multiple characteristics. The legislation aims to provide comprehensive legal protections, create consistency in anti-discrimination laws, and address the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in various aspects of society. Importantly, the bill includes provisions that prevent the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense against discrimination claims and explicitly states that the law is intended to provide full legal remedies for discriminatory practices.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1503/all-info