Equality Act
Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
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
Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
WI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
John Hickenlooper
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
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
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Gary Peters
MI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Charles Schumer
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Peter Welch
VT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov