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Washington, DC --  Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass the bipartisan Equality Act, historic legislation to provide full civil rights protections to LGBTQ Americans under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Equality Act would extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans with regard to employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

"True equality for the LGBTQ community is long overdue. Right now in this country, you can marry the person you love on Sunday, and wake up Monday fired from your job or evicted from your home because of it," said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. "I’ve fought for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ Americans throughout my career in public service because they are my friends and family. The historic step we've taken today to pass the Equality Act brings us closer to realizing the fundamental promise of this nation that all Americans are created equal."

Despite the Supreme Court’s recent Bostock v. Clayton County decision affirming that LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination in the workplace under federal law, the Equality Act remains necessary to codify civil rights protections in every arena of life in America. In one of its first actions, the Biden-Harris Administration issued an Executive Order directing all federal agencies to fully comply with the Bostock decision, but the Equality Act would ensure that future administrations cannot reinterpret the Supreme Court ruling or deny LGBTQ individuals their full rights and protections. 

The Equality Act enjoys the overwhelming support of the American people -- 70 percent of whom favor the legislation’s vital protections -- as well as robust support from the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of leading businesses and corporations that recognize that the strength of our economy and our society requires equal protection under the law.

Congresswoman Wexton has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community throughout her career in public service, including gaining attention just hours after being sworn into the 116th Congress for displaying the transgender pride flag outside of her office on Capitol Hill and leading the fight against former Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson’s anti-trans access to emergency shelter rule.

Wexton is a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and the Transgender Equality Task Force.

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