On February 25th, the House passed the Equality Act. The bill is now waiting for approval in the Senate before President Biden can sign it into law.
The Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include explicit protections against discrimination on the basis of sexuality or gender identity. In June of 2020, the Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act should be interpreted as inclusive of sexuality and gender identity, but this Act would codify that interpretation—preserving it beyond this administration and into the future.
A similar bill passed the House in 2019, only to be stalled out in the Senate, and it is unclear what may happen this time around. However, you can take action here to help get it passed.
If you have questions about discrimination in the workplace, contact us for a free, 30-minute consultation with an employment lawyer.
