Equality Act
Sponsored By: Senator Jeff Merkley
Introduced
Summary
Treat sexual orientation and gender identity as forms of sex discrimination across federal law. The bill would explicitly add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal sex‑discrimination protections and apply those rules across many statutes and programs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
No credit denials for LGBTQ people
If enacted, lenders could not deny credit based on sexual orientation or gender identity. If enacted, Equal Credit Opportunity Act rules and the bill's definitions would apply to all credit transactions. If enacted, this would affect mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.
Public businesses can't refuse service
If enacted, businesses open to the public could not refuse service based on sexual orientation or gender identity. If enacted, online sellers and service providers would also be covered. If enacted, many sole proprietors would be treated as 'establishments' and subject to these rules.
Housing protections for LGBTQ people
If enacted, renters and buyers could not be denied housing for their sexual orientation or gender identity. If enacted, the law would add protections for association and perceived characteristics. If enacted, intimidation protections in housing would also cover SOGI.
Workplace protections for LGBTQ people
If enacted, employees would be protected from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. If enacted, federal workers and Congressional staff would get the same protections. If enacted, employers would have to treat a person's gender identity as their sex for jobs that rely on sex-based qualifications.
Definitions and federal funding protections
If enacted, the bill would define "sex" to include sexual orientation and gender identity across major civil-rights laws. If enacted, people could not be denied access to shared facilities consistent with their gender identity. If enacted, recipients of federal funds could not discriminate on these bases. If enacted, the bill would bar using the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense to these covered claims.
Schools include LGBTQ in desegregation
If enacted, schools would include sexual orientation and gender identity in desegregation and anti-discrimination rules. If enacted, this could change school policies and enforcement actions. If enacted, students would gain explicit protections in education settings.
Court and jury protections for LGBTQ people
If enacted, jury selection and service rules would include sexual orientation and gender identity. If enacted, people could intervene in civil-rights lawsuits that involve SOGI. If enacted, courts would apply the bill's definitions and limits on RFRA defenses in jury and civil-rights matters.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jeff Merkley
OR • D
Cosponsors
Tammy Baldwin
WI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Angela Alsobrooks
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Michael Bennet
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Lisa Blunt Rochester
DE • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Maria Cantwell
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Tammy Duckworth
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
John Fetterman
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Ruben Gallego
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Kirsten Gillibrand
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Maggie Hassan
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Martin Heinrich
NM • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Mark Kelly
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Angus King
ME • I
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Edward Markey
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Christopher Murphy
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Patty Murray
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Jon Ossoff
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
John Reed
RI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Bernie Sanders
VT • I
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Brian Schatz
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Adam Schiff
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Mark Warner
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Elizabeth Warren
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sheldon Whitehouse
RI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Ron Wyden
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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