H.R. 15

Referred to Committee

Equality Act

Introduced 6/21/2023•118th Congress•House

Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Financial Services, House Administration, and Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

6/21/2023 • House

Summary

Equality Act

This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity with respect to businesses, employment, housing, federally funded programs, and other settings.

Specifically, the bill expands Title II and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit public accommodations and federally funded programs, respectively, from discriminating based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It also includes stores, transit services, recreational facilities, and establishments that provide health care, accounting, or legal services as public accommodations under Title II.

The bill also expands Title IV (desegregation of public schools) and Title VII (employment discrimination) to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identity. (The Supreme Court held in Bostock v. Clayton County that Title VII's prohibition of employment discrimination based on sex also prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.)

The bill similarly expands the Fair Housing Act (discrimination in public and private housing) to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity by creditors and with respect to jury selection.

The bill defines sex for purposes of the aforementioned provisions to include sex stereotypes, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

Introduced in House • 6/21/2023

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Topics & Subjects

Policy Area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Civil actions and liabilityConsumer creditDue process and equal protectionElementary and secondary educationEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHigher educationHousing discriminationJudicial procedure and administrationMuseums, exhibitions, cultural centersReligionRetail and wholesale tradesSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSports and recreation facilities