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.
President Joe Biden already has indicated that he supports the legislation.
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.
Who Voted Against the Equality Act?
- John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
- Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (Bucks) was one of only three Republicans in the US House to cross party lines and vote for the Equality Act.
The Full Pennsylvania Roll Call
- Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
- Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
- Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Yea
- Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
- John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
- Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
- Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
- Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) Yea
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay
- Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) Yay
Patrick Abdalla In 14 years in journalism, Patrick has been a sports writer, entertainment editor, and morning web copy editor. He’s also a certified teacher, once survived a tornado, and had a small plane crash on his street. News seems to find him. He lives in Lackawanna County with his wife and three kids.
