A Long Wait For Equal Protection
Several of the most important legal challenges to discrimination have been based on the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The clause states that no state may deny any person within its jurisdiction “equal protection of the laws”. In other words, the government can’t draw discriminatory distinctions between people. It also requires the state to be impartial in its actions. This requirement makes the Fourteenth Amendment an important foundation for civil rights.
The Equality Act passed through the U.S. House last year, and the Senate is set to consider it soon. The bill would make a number of important civil rights improvements, including prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also updates laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex. The act has the support of most Americans, and most major businesses and small business owners support it.
The Equality Act will help protect people from discrimination in the workplace. The Act requires employers to provide employees with equal pay for equal work, and protects employees from discrimination in employment benefits. The Act also extends the timeframe for filing discrimination claims to three years from the date of last discriminatory paycheck. The law prohibits discrimination based on sex in the workplace. Thousands of people are already affected by this law. In addition, the act expands the scope of civil rights laws, and adds a number of important new protections.
The Equality Act will also make it harder for states to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Its primary purpose is to update laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and adds a new statute that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. Its second purpose is to expand the scope of civil rights laws to protect LGBTQ people. It also includes a number of important provisions, including one that requires employers to publicly report the names of employees who are discriminated against.
The Equality Act was passed by the House last year, and it is scheduled to go to the Senate for a vote soon. The law is supported by a majority of American citizens, and it would make a significant contribution to the civil rights of LGBTQ people. However, it will not be enforced until the courts explicitly expand its protections. The Trump administration has a strong anti-LGBTQ animus, and it is unlikely that the law will be enforced. It’s important for Congress to act now to protect the rights of LGBTQ people.
Another important component of the Equality Act is the provision that prevents discrimination against LGBTQ people in school. The law protects LGBTQ students and faculty from discrimination in public schools and prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on their sexual orientation. This law is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Bar Association, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The law is also supported by hundreds of major businesses and thousands of small business owners.
