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Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) voted for H.R. 5, the Equality Act--sweeping legislation that would provide the full protections guaranteed by the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act passed the House with bipartisan support this afternoon.

The Equality Act extends anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans with regard to employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations.  

“Today’s historic vote proves that progress is still possible,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “The passage of the Equality Act sends a clear message that all Americans--no matter who you love or how you identify--deserve fair and equal treatment under the law. Today, we come one step closer to fulfilling that fundamental promise that all Americans are created equal.”

“Progress doesn’t come easily, and today’s victory belongs to the generations of LGBTQ Americans who fought for basic equality. I’m proud to serve in a historic, pro-equality House majority, and I’m committed to fighting alongside the LGBTQ community until all Americans are truly equal under the law.”

Congresswoman Wexton has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community throughout her entire career in public service. At the start of the 116th Congress, the Congresswoman garnered national attention for her decision to proudly display the transgender flag outside of her Capitol Hill office following her swearing in. The Congresswoman has also spoken out repeatedly against the Trump administration’s transgender military ban. 

Congresswoman Wexton is a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and the Transgender Equality Task Force.
WATCH: Congresswoman Wexton speaks on the House floor in favor of the Equality Act.

The Equality Act amends existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, Federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of Federal funds. It does so by adding sex in some places where it had not previously been protected, and clarifying that sex includes sexual orientation and gender identity. H.R. 5 amends:

• Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide basic protections against discrimination in public accommodations by adding sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide basic protections against discrimination by recipients of federal financial assistance by adding sex, including sexual orientation, and gender identity;
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to make explicit protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity;
• The Fair Housing Act to make protections against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity explicit;
• The Equal Credit Opportunity Act to make protections against credit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity explicit; and
• The Jury Selections and Services Act to make protections against discrimination in federal jury service based on sexual orientation or gender identity explicit.

The Equality Act has the bipartisan support of Members of Congress, the strong support of the business community, and the overwhelming support of the American people – with more than 7 in 10 supporting the Equality Act.  

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