by
Jonathan Taylor
PCDCC Legislative Committee Member, MLS Drexel University
Despite the 2016 Supreme Court Ruling ending legal bans on homosexual marriage, our Country has yet to pass a federal bill with Anti-Discrimination protects for LGBT people of our nation. Despite the enactment of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ & the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ in the 1990s, bills that specifically restrict & infringe on the rights of LGBT people, congress has never passed an Anti-Discrimination bill that protects the right of LGBT people.
A supreme court ruling sets a precedent but does not put anti-discrimination protections into the letter of the law or our constitutional amendments. In addition, it can be overturned with the next supreme court decision.
LGBT discrimination is still very pervasive. This year Bob Chapek, the CEO of Disney, was moved to publicly oppose Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill that specifically identifies, attacks, and discriminates against LGBT persons. People still support narrow discrimination that specifies LGBT persons in clear public legal language.
The Equality Act, HR 5, is before congress again this year, with the support of President Biden. It is important that this bill gets support.
It passed the House of Representatives 02/25/21 but will need significant support to pass the more partisan & conservative Senate.