What the Equality Act Would Mean for LGBTQ+ Americans

Today's guest hosts are Edwith Theogene and Charlotte Hancock, Organizing Director and Communications Director for Generation Progress.

During today's show they discuss the Equality Act, a key piece of civil rights legislation currently being considered by the Senate that would implement uniform legal protections for people regardless of gender and/or sexual orientation. These protections are critical for LGBTQ+ people in this country, whose protected status varies greatly from state to state and city to city.

The Equality Act has already been passed twice by the House of Representatives. The first time it was passed, in 2019, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to take it up for a vote in the Senate—but now, with a different party in control, the Equality Act is moving forward. Last week, it received its first Senate hearing. But the bill is still facing significant backlash that jeopardizes its chances of ultimately becoming law.

To talk with Edwith and Charlotte more about the Equality Act and what it would mean for LGBTQ+ Americans, they’re joined by Sharita Gruberg, the vice president of the LGBTQ+ project at the Center for American Progress, and Nadine Smith, the executive director of Equality Florida.

Generation Progress' website is GenProgress.org and their Twitter handle is @GenProgress.  Edwith Theogene's Twitter handle is @WhoIsEdwith and Charlotte Hancock's handle is @CharlatAnne.  Sharita Gruberg's Twitter handle is @SharitaGruberg and the handle for the LGBTQ Research and Communications Project at theCenter for American Progress is @LGBTQProgress.Nadine Smith's Twitter handle is @1NadineSmith and the handle for Equality Florida is @equalityfl.