WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria voted in favor of the Equality Act (H.R. 5), a bill she cosponsored, guaranteeing explicit and permanent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in credit, education, employment, housing, jury service, and in accessing federally-funded programs.
“This long-overdue legislation codifies the values that are central to our democracy: justice, fairness, and equal protection under the law,” said Congresswoman Elaine Luria. “The LGBTQ+ community has lived without basic civil rights protections for too long, and today’s vote means we are one step closer to ensuring that no one is denied access to their constitutional rights because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. I will always be an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and the rights of all Virginians.”
The House passed the Equality Act by a vote of 224-206.
The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights law — including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and several laws regarding employment with the federal government — to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The legislation also amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex.