See How Pennsylvania’s Congressional Members Have Voted on the Equality Act So Far

In this image from video, Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

By Patrick Abdalla

June 2, 2021

The act passed with a bipartisan support in the US House of Representatives.

Democratic members of the US House of Representatives are calling on the US Senate to honor Pride Month by voting for the Equality Act.

The bill, which passed the House in February in a 224-206 vote that fell mostly along party lines, would prohibit segregation based on sex, gender, orientation, and gender identity.

It has been sitting in the Senate for the last three months.

I’m fighting to ensure all Pennsylvanians can live with dignity – no matter who they are or who they love.

That’s why I voted to pass the #EqualityAct in the House in February. The Senate should honor #PrideMonth by doing the same in June.
— Matt Cartwright (@RepCartwright) June 1, 2021

President Joe Biden already has indicated that he supports the legislation.

The Equality Act provides long overdue federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, preventing discrimination in our housing, education, public services, and lending systems. I urge Congress to swiftly pass this historic legislation.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 19, 2021

What is the Equality Act?

The bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.

It prohibits anyone from denying someone access to a shared facility, such as a dressing room or bathroom, based on their gender identity.

It allows the federal government to protect those rights in federal court.

Pennsylvania is one of many places in the U.S. that lacks protections for LGBTQ folks. The #EqualityAct will make sure EVERY person is fully protected from discrimination under the law — no matter where they live.

We need the Senate to pass the Equality Act. Let’s get this done!
— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) June 1, 2021

I just voted to pass the #EqualityAct because we must live up to our promise of justice and equality for all.

If LGBTQ+ people live in fear of discrimination, we have failed as a society.

It’s time to punish all discriminatory practices.
— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@RepDean) February 25, 2021