LGBT Civil Rights Measure Passed by House with Business Support

The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday that would amend a decades-old federal law to add new protections for people based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

The bill (H.R. 5) would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ban such discrimination, codifying protections for LGBT people in areas such as housing and employment. Supporters of the bill, which passed on a 224-206 vote, say its enactment is necessary because many states lack those protections.

“It will once and for all ensure that LGBTQ Americans can live lives free from discrimination,” said Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who introduced ...