Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Via press release from GLAAD:
GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today slammed President Donald Trump and his administration for opposing the Equality Act, which would secure across-the-board protections for more than 13 million LGBTQ Americans at their workplace, in their homes, and across their communities.
More than 161 corporate backers support the Equality Act and a majority of Americans in all 50 states and across all major political parties support the idea of cementing nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community. The legislation is expected to receive a vote by the House of Representatives this Friday.
“President Trump’s opposition to the Equality Act, a bill that would protect hard-working Americans against discrimination, shows the unyielding power that anti-LGBTQ activists like the Heritage Foundation have on this Administration,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD.
“LGBTQ Americans will not forget the President’s politically craven flip-flop on this fair and just legislation, which further cements his Administration’s legacy of being the most anti-LGBTQ government in recent memory.”
From the Human Rights Campaign:
“We’re disgusted, but certainly not surprised, by Donald Trump’s announcement that he opposes the Equality Act, which is supported by seven in ten Americans and more than two hundred major businesses,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.
“By opposing this common sense civil rights legislation, Donald Trump is ensuring that LGBTQ people remain at risk of being fired or denied housing in a majority of states.
“The LGBTQ community, and all Americans for that matter, deserve a president with the courage and decency to sign this bill into law, and we will continue the urgent work to pass the Equality Act and replace Donald Trump with a pro-equality president who will sign it into law.”
From Trump’s 2000 interview with The Advocate:
“I like the idea of amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include a ban of discrimination based on sexual orientation. It would be simple. It would be straightforward. We don’t need to rewrite the laws currently on the books, although I do think we need to address hate-crimes legislation.
“But amending the Civil Rights Act would grant the same protection to gay people that we give to other Americans — it’s only fair. I actually suggested this first, and now I see [Democratic presidential candidate] Bill Bradley has jumped on the bandwagon and is claiming the idea as his own.”
[A bill to amend the Civil Rights Act that would have included protections on the basis of sexual orientation was first introduced in the 1970s. — Ed.]