Equality Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Unknown
Summary
Equality Act Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation. Defines: "sex" to include a sex stereotype, sexual orientation or gender identity, and pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality; and "gender identity" as gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or characteristics, regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth. Expands the categories of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide: exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; goods, services, or programs, including a store, a shopping center, an online retailer or service provider, a salon, a bank, a gas station, a food bank, a service or care center, a shelter, a travel agency, a funeral parlor, or a health care, accounting, or legal service; or transportation services. Prohibits "establishment" from being construed to be limited to a physical facility or place. Authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring a civil action if it receives a complaint from an individual who claims to be: denied equal utilization of a public facility owned, operated, or managed by a state (other than public schools or colleges) on account of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity; or denied admission to, or not permitted to continue attending, a public college by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity, thereby expanding DOJ's existing authority to bring such actions for complaints based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Revises public school desegregation standards to provide for the assignment of students without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. Prohibits programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance from denying benefits to, or discriminating against, persons based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity, subject to the same exceptions and conditions that currently apply to unlawful employment practices based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Requires employers to recognize individuals in accordance with their gender identity if sex is a bona fide occupational qualification that is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise. Provides government employees with protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Authorizes DOJ to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. Requires protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin to include protections against discrimination based on: (1) an association with another person who is a member of such a protected class; or (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that an individual is a member of such a protected class. Prohibits the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 from providing a claim, defense, or basis for challenging such protections. Prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity. Amends the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and jury selection standards to add sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected against discrimination under such laws.
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Bill Overview
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Brady, Robert A. [D-PA-1]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Titus
NV • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kind, Ron [D-WI-3]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/28/2015
Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/28/2015
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/28/2015
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 9/10/2015
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Sponsored 9/10/2015
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/7/2016
Rep. Dold, Robert J. [R-IL-10]
IL • R
Sponsored 1/25/2016
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 3/3/2016
Rep. Graham, Gwen [D-FL-2]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2016
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2016
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/9/2016
Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 9/9/2016
Del. Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU-At Large]
GU • D
Sponsored 9/20/2016
Rep. Tsongas, Niki [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Vargas
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Pocan
WI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ-9]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Ashford, Brad [D-NE-2]
NE • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Becerra, Xavier [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Bera
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Beyer
VA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Boyle (PA)
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Brownley
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Capps, Lois [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Carney, John C., Jr. [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Castor (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Chu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Clark (MA)
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Cleaver
MO • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5]
TN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Courtney
CT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
DeGette
CO • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
DeLauro
CT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
DeSaulnier
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Edwards, Donna F. [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Fattah, Chaka [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Foster
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Frankel, Lois
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Grayson, Alan [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Hahn, Janice [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [D-TX-15]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Huffman
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Jeffries
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Kaptur
OH • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Kelly (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Larson (CT)
CT • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-9]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Lieu
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2]
IA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Lofgren
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Lynch
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Matsui
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Meeks
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Meng
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Murphy, Patrick [D-FL-18]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Nadler
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Quigley
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Ruiz
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Sanchez
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Schrader, Kurt [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Sherman
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Swalwell
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Takai, Mark [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Tonko
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Torres (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Velazquez
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Larsen (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Doggett
TX • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/23/2015
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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