In the wake of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act imbroglio, Democrats in the U.S. Congress will file a resolution stating LGBT people must not be targets of discrimination.
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives this week will file a resolution stating that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should not be targets of discrimination and should be protected, especially in the workplace, in housing and in schools.
Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana, whose state grabbed headlines for more than a week after Gov. Mike Pence signed an anti-gay “religious freedom” bill into law, noted the “backlash of Indiana’s misguided law.” He stated a conference call Monday morning, “it is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of discrimination.”
Carson is the main sponsor of the non-binding “Equality for All Resolution,” that if brought to the floor, would firmly place Republicans in a challenging spot, given their party’s anti-LGBT platform. It specifies “the sense of Congress that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people should be protected from discrimination under the law.” It also refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.â€Â
“It’s time for Congress to weigh in on what is happening across the country,” Rep. Steve Israel of New York said. “The recent examples of legislation in Indiana and Arkansas are not where we are as a country. It’s not who we are as Americans. And Congress needs to lead on this.”
“When intolerance occurs anywhere, everyone has an obligation to take a stand, and Congress doesn’t get a waiver on that,†House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Chairman Steve Israel added this morning.Â
“Most Americans would be surprised to learn that, in most states, a gay couple can be married on Saturday, post photos of their wedding on Sunday and then be fired on Monday for no reason other than the fact that they are gay,” Rep. David Cicilline told reporters today.
Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, will introduce formal legislation later this spring designed as a comprehensive civil rights bill for LGBT people, based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“The bill would cut through a patchwork of 50 state laws to make sure all LGBT Americans can enjoy their basic rights no matter where they live, work or go to school,†Cicilline said today. “We’re not in a position yet to say that’s the case, but obviously I’m going to continue to do outreach to make this a bipartisan effort.â€Â
In audio of the call provided to The New Civil Rights Movement, Rep. Cicilline stated he hopes to also have a companion bill in the Senate, and will work with national groups on the language.Â
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Hat tip: Chris Geidner, The Hill, USA Today, Roll Call