U.S. Rep. Scanlon Reintroduces Equity Act To Protect LGBTQI+ In PA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon Wednesday joined Democrats reintroducing the Equality Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that would prohibit discrimination against members of the LGBTQI+ community in the areas of employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations.

The House passed the Equality Act with bipartisan support in both the 116th and 117th Congresses.

“No matter an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics, they should be able to enjoy a life free from discrimination,” said Scanlon, who represents portions of Chester and Delaware counties.

“As LGBTQI+ people continue to be attacked from every direction in state legislatures and in Congress, I am committed to not just pushing back against these attacks but also pushing equality forward.”

The Equality Act has these provisions:

• Amending civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service.
• Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in public accommodations and federally funded programs.
• Expanding the definition of public accommodations in the Civil Rights Act, also on the basis of race, color, national origin, and religion.

The bill text is available here.