Obama Administration Announces Support For Amending Civil Rights Act To Protect LGBT People

The Obama Administration, after reviewing the Equality Act, now fully supports it.

President Barack Obama’s administration fully supports the Equality Act, press secretary Josh Earnest today told reporters. The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, expanding it to include bans on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and the jury system.

“It is now clear that the administration strongly supports the equality act,” Earnest said, noting it would help “millions of Americans.”

The Washington Post reports Earnest said the White House will “work to ensure that the legislative process produces something that balances “the bedrock principles of civil rights with the religious liberty that we hold dear in this country.”

Of course, given Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, there is little chance of the bills, which have already been introduced, even coming to the floor of either chamber for a vote.

Democratic presidential candidate and frontrunner Hillary Clinton over the weekend said, “I invite all of you to come to the White House when I sign that law.”

It is a huge step forward for a community that has suffered centuries of discrimination and oppression.

“By endorsing the Equality Act, the White House sent a strong message that it’s time to put the politics of discrimination behind us once and for all,” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Hunter Griffin said in a statement posted to Facebook. “Now it’s time for Congress to act. Everyone should be able to live free from fear of discrimination and have a fair chance to earn a living and provide for their families, including people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.”

 

This is a breaking news story and may be updated. Stay tuned.