Equality Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for yielding.

``We the people'' is a bold opening statement enshrined in our Constitution. But for far too long, LGBTQ Americans have not been included in that statement.

A gay couple can get married in all 50 States. A trans worker has legal protections from discrimination in the workplace. But despite this progress, a lesbian mom can be denied housing in most States because of her sexual orientation. A queer person can be turned away from serving on a jury.

In 27 States, there are no laws protecting people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in education, housing, and public accommodation, and this is wrong. No person, no matter where they live in America, should face discrimination. Equality should not depend on the ZIP Code where you live. Now is the time for ``we the people'' to include LGBTQ Americans.

My Republican colleagues are desperately trying to derail this legislation by cloaking their bigotry with high-minded arguments about religious freedom and appealing to people's worst instincts with transphobic attacks and grossly exaggerated examples. Their main argument seems to be that America doesn't want a law that will protect the dignity of trans people who get murdered and beat up for being who they are.

In reality, trans people are among those in our community who need this protection the most. Republicans want to vilify people who are the most severe victims of injustice.

What this law does is simple and just. It guarantees that LGBTQ people in every State cannot be discriminated against because of their identity. We have a moral imperative to get the Equality Act signed into law.

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