On Feb. 25, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a bill that proposes to amend federal civil rights law to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing and public schools, among other areas. The U.S. Supreme Court already has interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but the Equality Act would enshrine the prohibition in the statutory language and provide broader protections.
The bill has now been referred to the Senate. Check back for updates to see if the bill becomes law.