House of Representatives Passes Equality Act

Rep.+David+Cicilline%2C+D-R.I.%2C+right%2C+with+Senate+House+Speaker+Nancy+Pelosi+of+Calif.%2C+left%2C+and+Sen.+Jerry+Nadler%2C+D-N.Y.+These+representatives+helped+pass+the+Equality+Act%2C+which+aims+to+lower+discrimination+based+on+gender+identity+or+sexual+orientation+%28photo+courtesy+AP+News%29.

Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., right, with Senate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, and Sen. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y. These representatives helped pass the Equality Act, which aims to lower discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation (photo courtesy AP News).

The House of Representatives has officially passed the Equality Act, legislation that aims to protect people of all sexual orientations and gender identities from being discriminated against. 

“The time has come to extend the blessings of liberty and equality to all Americans regardless of who they are and who they love,” said Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, one of the bill’s lead sponsors and an openly gay member of the House.

The bill passed with a vote of 224-206, with unanimous Democratic support and an additional three Republican representatives.

This is not the first time the Equality Act has appeared in the House; in fact, the last Congress passed it through the House, but Trump’s White House barred it from going to the Senate for a vote. Supporters of the bill hope that it will be able to pass in the half-Democrat half-Republican Senate this time around.