Merkley introduces a federal version of Oregon's Equality Act

Kari Chisholm

In 2007, as Speaker of Oregon's House, Jeff Merkley led an historic session with dozens of progressive achievements -- including the Oregon Equality Act to end discrimination against LGBT Oregonians.

Yesterday, he introduced a bill to do the same nationwide. Despite a public that thinks it's already illegal to fire someone for being gay, 28 states -- where a majority of LGBT Americans live -- still allow discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and more.

Merkley's Equality Act would -- according to Think Progress -- including the following protections:

• Employment: Any employer with at least 15 employees, as well as labor organizations, would be prohibited from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. There would be no religious exemption to discriminate against such employees, and all federal employees would be protected under law as well.

• Housing: The Fair Housing Act would also be amended to ensure LGBT can not be denied the sale, rental or financing of housing.

• Public Accommodations: LGBT could no longer be denied service in stores, banks, transportation, and health care services. This includes respecting transgender people’s access to the sex-segregated facility that matches their gender identity.

• Public Education: LGBT people would be explicitly protected from discrimination when it comes to federal student financial aid programs.

• Federal Funding: Any entity that receives federal funds would not be able to discriminate against LGBT people in programs such as healthcare, child welfare, nutrition assistance, public education, and financial assistance for higher education.

• Credit: LGBT people would have equal access to credit, and the term “spouse” would replace references to “husband and wife” in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

• Juries: Federal protections would ensure LGBT people cannot be excluded from service as a juror because of their identity.

Congressman John Lewis -- a civil rights hero of the 1960s -- was on hand for the bill announcement:

“I’ve said it in the past, and I’ll say it again,” said Congressman John Lewis, one of the original Freedom Riders of the 1960s, during the announcement of the bill.1 “We’ve fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Will the bill go anywhere? Not likely, with John Boehner and Mitch McConnell running Congress. So, why does this matter? According to Slate's Mark Joseph Stern: "It suggests that as soon as Democrats regain a majority in both the House and Senate, an omnibus LGBT civil rights bill would be a top priority."

As always, elections matter.

By Kari Chisholm July 24, 2015