Skip to main content
S 393 117th Congress Senate Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Consumer credit Due process and equal protection Elementary and secondary education Employment discrimination and employee rights Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Higher education Housing discrimination Judicial procedure and administration Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers Religion Retail and wholesale trades Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination Sports and recreation facilities

Equality Act

Introduced: February 23, 2021 Introduced by: Merkley, Jeff Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 23, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 23, 2021
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Equality Act

This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation.

The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services.

The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.

What's happening now February 23, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 37
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Feb 23, 2021
D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Feb 23, 2021
D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Feb 23, 2021
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Feb 23, 2021
D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Feb 23, 2021
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Feb 23, 2021
D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Feb 23, 2021
D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Feb 23, 2021
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Feb 23, 2021
D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Feb 23, 2021
D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Feb 23, 2021
D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Feb 23, 2021
D
Hickenlooper, John W.
Colorado · Feb 23, 2021
D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Feb 23, 2021
D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Feb 23, 2021
D
Kelly, Mark
Arizona · Feb 23, 2021
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Feb 23, 2021
D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Feb 23, 2021
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 23, 2021
D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Feb 23, 2021
D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Feb 23, 2021
D
Ossoff, Jon
Georgia · Feb 23, 2021
D
Padilla, Alex
California · Feb 23, 2021
D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Feb 23, 2021
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Feb 23, 2021
D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Feb 23, 2021
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 23, 2021
D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Feb 23, 2021
D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Feb 23, 2021
D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Feb 23, 2021
D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Feb 23, 2021
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Feb 23, 2021
D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Feb 23, 2021
D
Warnock, Raphael G.
Georgia · Feb 23, 2021
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Feb 23, 2021
D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Feb 23, 2021
D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Feb 23, 2021