Congressman Dan Kildee Champions Comprehensive Legislation to End Discrimination against LGBT Americans
New Bill Would Extend Civil Rights Protections to Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Protecting LGBT Americans from Discrimination in Housing, Employment, Credit and other Areas of Public Life
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 24, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), a Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, today cosponsored new legislation – the Equality Act – to extend civil rights protections to lesbian, gay, and transgender (LGBT) Americans in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life.
In Michigan, LGBT individuals can now get married but still can be fired from their job, evicted from their home, or denied a loan simply for being gay. Michigan, along with a majority of other states, lacks protections for LGBT individuals in employment and housing protections.
“Right now in Michigan, a same-sex couple can be married on Saturday, post photos of their wedding online Sunday, and on Monday be fired from their job and evicted from their home, simply for being gay. That’s discriminatory and wrong, but is unfortunately is legal in our state,” Congressman Kildee said. “Congress needs to act to pass the Equality Act. Fairness and equality are core American values, and we must ensure that every American – gay or straight – can live a life free from discrimination.”
The Equality Act was introduced by Congressman Kildee and 157 other Members of Congress. The bill would amend the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity, making it illegal to discriminate in business, education, employment, federal programs and housing.
Congressman Kildee has been a champion for LGBT Americans in Congress. Before the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling, Congressman Kildee filed an amicus curiae brief urging the High Court to strike down Michigan’s decades-old discriminatory ban on same-sex marriage. He has also championed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act.
