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Quigley Statement on House Passage of Equality Act

May 17, 2019

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as Vice-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and is a founding member of the Transgender Equality Task Force, released the following statement after House Democrats passed H.R. 5, the Equality Act, to end discrimination against LGBT Americans:

"This year, our nation will mark fifty years since the Stonewall Riots in New York City spurred the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Over the decades, LGBTQ+ individuals have made significant strides in their fight for equal rights. From marriage equality to the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Americans have celebrated the right for everyone to live freely as who they are. Unfortunately, despite this momentous progress, LGBTQ+ individuals still face discrimination in too many areas of life and work. LGBTQ+ Americans can be fired from their jobs, denied housing or turned away from services for no other reason than who they love or how they identify.

"That ends today.

"Today, on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, House Democrats passed the Equality Act to ensure that LGBTQ+ Americans are protected by the same federal civil rights laws that protect their straight and cisgender counterparts. This historic legislation extends anti-discrimination protections in employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations. But this is just the beginning. I am committed to working with my colleagues to put pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring this critical legislation to the floor of the Senate for a vote. And I will never stop fighting for LGBTQ+ Americans."

Issues:Equality