“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”*
* DISCLAIMER: The provisions in this document are not intended to and do not provide equal rights for members of the LGBT community. The Federal Government will not protect citizens from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, federal funding, education, credit and jury selection based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Two Hundred Forty Years ago, the Declaration of Independence set forth the founding principles of our new nation: all people are created equal; basic rights cannot be taken away; and the government has the obligation to protect these rights. The quest to make these words a reality for every American, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion, has been an ongoing struggle. The LGBT community still is excluded from this American promise.
The Equality Act (H.R.3185/S.185) will address this wrong by including sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and several laws regarding employment with the federal government. The legislation also prohibits discrimination in public spaces and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex, updating the definition of public spaces and services to include retail stores, services such as banks and legal services, and transportation services.
Torah teaches us that all human beings should be treated equally because they are created b’tzelem Elohim – in the image of God.
