House Passes Bill Expanding LGBT Civil Rights Protections

The U.S. House passed legislation that would ban discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

• The measure (H.R. 5), passed by a 224 to 206 vote, would expand civil rights protections to areas such as housing, health care
• The House passed an identical bill with bipartisan support in 2019; the Senate, then GOP-held, didn’t consider it
• Business groups including U.S. Chamber of Commerce back legislation called the “Equality Act;” President Joe Biden has urged Congress to pass the legislation swiftly
• Critics argue measure violates First Amendment rights, have called for religious exemptions
• Read the BGOV Bill Summary ...