Equality Act
Sponsored By: Representative Takano
Introduced
Summary
Adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal definition of sex and creates a uniform, nationwide nondiscrimination framework across employment, housing, credit, education, public accommodations, jury service, and programs that receive federal funds. The bill would harmonize definitions, remedies, and rules of construction across multiple civil rights statutes to make enforcement and claims more consistent.
Show full summary
- Workers: Private and federal employees would gain explicit protection from discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill would update Title VII rules, expand remedies, and adjust bona fide occupational qualification rules to account for gender identity.
- People using public places, students, and tenants: Public accommodations and education laws would explicitly bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Fair Housing Act would adopt the same definitions and protections to cover renters and buyers.
- Borrowers, juries, and enforcement: The Equal Credit Opportunity Act would bar credit discrimination on these bases. Jury selection rules would be updated to prevent discrimination. The bill would also prevent the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from being used to challenge enforcement under the covered civil rights laws.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger job protections for LGBTQ workers
If enacted, this would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal job discrimination rules. Employers would need to treat workers as qualified in line with their gender identity when sex is a job requirement. It would apply to private and federal jobs. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Single federal rules for sex and gender
If enacted, this would set one federal definition for sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It would say sex includes pregnancy, sex stereotypes, and sex traits, and would bar using RFRA as a defense in covered civil‑rights cases. People would not be denied access to shared facilities consistent with their gender identity. These rules would apply across major civil‑rights laws and be extended to federal workers, congressional staff, and jurors. Changes would take effect upon enactment.
Fair credit rules for LGBTQ borrowers
If enacted, lenders would be barred from denying credit or changing terms because of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill’s definitions would apply to all parts of a credit deal. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
No discrimination in stores and services
If enacted, this would ban discrimination in public places because of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It would cover stores, online sellers, banks, shelters, health care, travel, and transportation. An “establishment” would include individuals and not be limited to a physical place. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Housing protections for LGBTQ renters and buyers
If enacted, this would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Fair Housing Act protections. Landlords, sellers, and housing services could not deny, harass, or intimidate based on these traits. It would use the bill’s unified definitions. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Takano
CA • D
Cosponsors
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Crow
CO • D
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Davids (KS)
KS • D
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Veasey
TX • D
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Velazquez
NY • D
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Whitesides
CA • D
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Williams (GA)
GA • D
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Wilson (FL)
FL • D
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Walkinshaw
VA • D
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Adams
NC • D
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Aguilar
CA • D
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Amo
RI • D
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Ansari
AZ • D
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Auchincloss
MA • D
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Balint
VT • D
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Barragan
CA • D
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Beatty
OH • D
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Bell
MO • D
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Bera
CA • D
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Beyer
VA • D
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Bishop
GA • D
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Bonamici
OR • D
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Boyle (PA)
PA • D
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Brown
OH • D
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Brownley
CA • D
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Budzinski
IL • D
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Bynum
OR • D
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Carbajal
CA • D
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Carson
IN • D
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Carter (LA)
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Casar
TX • D
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Case
HI • D
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Casten
IL • D
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Castor (FL)
FL • D
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Castro (TX)
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Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
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Chu
CA • D
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Cisneros
CA • D
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Clark (MA)
MA • D
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Clarke (NY)
NY • D
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Cleaver
MO • D
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Clyburn
SC • D
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Cohen
TN • D
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Conaway
NJ • D
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Connolly
VA • D
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Correa
CA • D
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Costa
CA • D
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Courtney
CT • D
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Craig
MN • D
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Davis (IL)
IL • D
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Dean (PA)
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DeGette
CO • D
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DeLauro
CT • D
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DelBene
WA • D
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Deluzio
PA • D
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DeSaulnier
CA • D
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Dexter
OR • D
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Dingell
MI • D
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Doggett
TX • D
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Elfreth
MD • D
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Escobar
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Espaillat
NY • D
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Evans (PA)
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Fields
LA • D
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Figures
AL • D
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Fletcher
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Foster
IL • D
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Frankel, Lois
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Garamendi
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Garcia (CA)
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Golden (ME)
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Goldman (NY)
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Gomez
CA • D
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Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
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Goodlander
NH • D
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Gottheimer
NJ • D
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Gray
CA • D
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Green, Al (TX)
TX • D
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Harder (CA)
CA • D
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Hayes
CT • D
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Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
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Himes
CT • D
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Horsford
NV • D
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Houlahan
PA • D
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Hoyer
MD • D
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Hoyle (OR)
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Huffman
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Ivey
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Jackson (IL)
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Jacobs
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WA • D
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Jeffries
NY • D
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Johnson (TX)
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Kaptur
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Keating
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Kelly (IL)
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Kennedy (NY)
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Khanna
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Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
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Landsman
OH • D
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Larsen (WA)
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Larson (CT)
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Latimer
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Leger Fernandez
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Levin
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Liccardo
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Lieu
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Lofgren
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Mannion
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McClain Delaney
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McClellan
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Meng
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Mfume
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Min
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Moulton
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Mrvan
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Mullin
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Nadler
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Olszewski
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Omar
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Pallone
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Pappas
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Pelosi
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Peters
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Pettersen
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Pingree
ME • D
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VI • D
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Pou
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Ruiz
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Ryan
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Salinas
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Sanchez
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Scanlon
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Schakowsky
IL • D
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Schneider
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Scholten
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Schrier
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Scott (VA)
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Scott, David
GA • D
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Sewell
AL • D
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Sherman
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Sherrill
NJ • D
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Simon
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Smith (WA)
WA • D
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Sorensen
IL • D
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Soto
FL • D
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Stansbury
NM • D
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Stanton
AZ • D
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Stevens
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Strickland
WA • D
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Subramanyam
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Suozzi
NY • D
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Swalwell
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Sykes
OH • D
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Thanedar
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MA • D
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Underwood
IL • D
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CA • D
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NM • D
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Wasserman Schultz
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Waters
CA • D
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Watson Coleman
NJ • D
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Grijalva
AZ • D
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Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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