White House ‘Not Prepared’ To Endorse Equality Act ‘Yet’ (Video)

The White House says it is reviewing the Equality Act but isn’t ready to endorse it yet. Why?

Introduced into the both houses of Congress in July, the Equality Act would amend the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 to additionally ban discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. It would also expand the range of protection to include areas like housing and credit.

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Washington Blade Chief Political and White House reporter Chris Johnson asked Obama administration press secretary Josh Earnest on Tuesday if, in the light of Vice President Joe Biden’s comments over the weekend supporting the legislation, the White House would endorse it. Hillary Clinton also expressed support for the bill this weekend.

“I’m not prepared to say that yet,” Earnest responded. “This is a piece of legislation that the White House does continue to review. There’s significant consequences to this bill going into effect. It has an impact on housing law and a variety of other policies in the federal government, so it’s something that’s still being carefully reviewed by the administration.” 

Earnest was quick to note that President Obama supports the ideals of the bill.

“The president believes the passage of comprehensive legislation that protects LGBT Americans from discrimination would mark an important step toward that outcome,” Earnest said. “So, we would applaud the efforts of members of Congress to try to advance that goal, but when it comes to this specific piece of legislation, it’s something that is still under review by the administration.”

It’s not just the White House that has yet to endorse the Equality Act. Some of the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights groups also have reservations. For example, the NAACP, which has overwhelmingly supported LGBT civil rights, has yet to endorse it. And, as Johnson notes, GetEQUAL has concerns about opening up the Civil Rights Act to an amendment process that might allow others to try to actually weaken it, as so often happens in Congress.

 

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Image: Screenshot via Chris Johnson/YouTube