(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a historic bill that clarifies and bolsters existing nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people. The Equality Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Kris Hayashi, executive director of Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures, issued the following statement:
Today’s passage of the Equality Act is a heartening sign in this time of intense attack against transgender communities, but we know there is so much more we must do to ensure transgender people can survive and thrive in the U.S.
We absolutely need to enshrine explicit protections for transgender people into the law, with no room for confusion or equivocation. At the same time, for those protections to truly be felt by all in our community, we must also address the many ways transgender people – especially Black trans women, migrants, Muslims, and people with disabilities – are targeted for violence and incarceration.
The last two years have underscored both the importance and limitations of legislation as a tool for protecting our communities. As we celebrate the passage of the Equality Act, TLC doubles down on our work to invest in trans movement leadership and power.
###
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. transgenderlawcenter.org