LAS VEGAS, NV — Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) held a press conference with Nevada’s chapter of the Human Rights Campaign and members of Nevada’s LGBTQ community to call on Congress to pass the Equality Act. Senator Rosen emphasized the urgent need for legislative action to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ individuals.
“It is shameful that in this day and age members of the LGBTQ community still face discrimination. I am a proud cosponsor of the Equality Act, which explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, jury service, public accommodations, and the use of federal funds.” dijo el Senador Rosen. “This Administrations recent ban of transgender individuals from military service is the latest in a long line of assaults on the rights and liberties of LGBTQ people. I will continue to support legislation that promotes respect and tolerance for all of our fellow Americans.”
“Senator Rosen is a true ally of the LGBTQ community,” said Briana Escamilla, Nevada State Director of the Human Rights Campaign. “We appreciate being able to count on her to defend the rights of all Americans no matter who they are or who they love.”
“We’re proud to work with Senator Rosen to fill the gaps in anti-discrimination laws,” said Tod Story, Nevada Executive Director of the ACLU. “We will continue to work with members of Congress, like Senator Rosen, to provide protections for LGBTQ Americans.”
BACKGROUND: Earlier this year, Senator Rosen helped introduce the Equality Act, legislation which explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, jury service, public accommodations, and the use of federal funds.
Senator Rosen has been a staunch ally of LGBTQ Americans since coming to Congress, receiving perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign each year she has been in office. In addition to co-sponsoring the Equality Act, in the House Senator Rosen was an original co-sponsor of legislation to prohibit the advertising and practice of for-profit LGBTQ conversion therapy and a bill placing sanctions on foreign individuals complicit in human rights abuses against members of the LGBTQ community. She was also a co-sponsor of the Do No Harm Act (H.R. 3222), which would ensure that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act cannot be used as a shield to allow companies to discriminate against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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