Two prominent attorneys are backing the introduction of a new federal law that will extend anti-discrimination laws to LGBT Americans.
Ted Olson, a Republican and former solicitor general for the Bush administration, and David Boies are encouraging both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to support the Equality Act.
The Equality Act will be introduced to Congress on Thursday July 23. If successful, the act will amend the language used in the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect LGBT identifying individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, businesses, and public areas.
In a statement released by both men, they stated that “we support the idea of a comprehensive approach to non-discrimination protections that would embrace LGBT people as other groups who are protected by our civil rights laws.”
If the Equality Act passes, it will provide federal protections and punishments for discrimination against LGBT people. These protections will be similar to the laws based on racial discrimination.
Olson and Boies stated “We urge Republicans and Democrats to once again come together to support this important legislation that provides the same protections to LGBT people as other Americans.”
Currently twenty-two states and the District of Columbia embrace similar protections based on sexual orientation. Nineteen of the fifty states have protections for transgendered individuals.