Equality Act

Bill: 114-s-1858
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2015-07-23
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Consumer credit

Due process and equal protection

Elementary and secondary education

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Higher education

Housing discrimination

Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers

Religion

Retail and wholesale trades

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Sports and recreation facilities
Latest action: action_date: 2015-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5530-5533)

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Equality Act</b></p> <p>Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation.</p> <p>Defines: </p> <ul> <li>&quot;sex&quot; to include a sex stereotype, sexual orientation or gender identity, and pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; </li> <li>&quot;sexual orientation&quot; as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality; and </li> <li> &quot;gender identity&quot; as gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or characteristics, regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth.</li> </ul> <p>Expands the categories of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide: </p> <ul> <li>exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; </li> <li>goods, services, or programs, including a store, a shopping center, an online retailer or service provider, a salon, a bank, a gas station, a food bank, a service or care center, a shelter, a travel agency, a funeral parlor, or a health care, accounting, or legal service; or</li> <li>transportation services.</li> </ul> <p>Prohibits &quot;establishment&quot; from being construed to be limited to a physical facility or place.</p> <p>Authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring a civil action if it receives a complaint from an individual who claims to be:</p> <ul> <li>denied equal utilization of a public facility owned, operated, or managed by a state (other than public schools or colleges) on account of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity; or</li> <li> denied admission to, or not permitted to continue attending, a public college by reason of sexual orientation or gender identity, thereby expanding DOJ's existing authority to bring such actions for complaints based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.</li> </ul> <p>Revises public school desegregation standards to provide for the assignment of students without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. </p> <p>Prohibits programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance from denying benefits to, or discriminating against, persons based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.</p> <p>Prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating based on sexual orientation or gender identity, subject to the same exceptions and conditions that currently apply to unlawful employment practices based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Requires employers to recognize individuals in accordance with their gender identity if sex is a bona fide occupational qualification that is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise. </p> <p>Provides government employees with protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.</p> <p>Authorizes DOJ to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity.</p> <p>Requires protections against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin to include protections against discrimination based on: (1) an association with another person who is a member of such a protected class; or (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that an individual is a member of such a protected class. Prohibits the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 from providing a claim, defense, or basis for challenging such protections. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>Amends the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and jury selection standards to add sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected against discrimination under such laws.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1858 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 23, 2015 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Booker , Mr. Bennet , Mr. Blumenthal , Mrs. Boxer , Mr. Brown , Ms. Cantwell , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , Mr. Coons , Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Franken , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Heinrich , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Kaine , Mr. King , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Leahy , Mr. Markey , Mrs. McCaskill , Mr. Menendez , Ms. Mikulski , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Peters , Mr. Reed , Mr. Reid , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Schumer , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Udall , Mr. Warner , Ms. Warren , Mr. Whitehouse , and Mr. Wyden ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equality Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Discrimination can occur on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes. Each of these factors alone can serve as the basis for discrimination, and each is a form of sex discrimination. (2) A single instance of discrimination may have more than 1 basis. For example, discrimination against a married same-sex couple could be based on the sex stereotype that marriage should only be between heterosexual couples, the sexual orientation of the 2 individuals in the couple, or both. Discrimination against a pregnant lesbian could be based on her sex, her sexual orientation, her pregnancy, or on the basis of multiple factors. (3) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (referred to as LGBT ) people commonly experience discrimination in securing access to public accommodations—including restaurants, stores, places of or establishments that provide entertainment, and transportation. Forms of discrimination include the exclusion and denial of entry, unequal or unfair treatment, harassment, and violence. This discrimination prevents the full participation of LGBT people in society and disrupts the free flow of commerce. (4) Women also face discrimination, in establishments such as stores and restaurants, and places or establishments that provide other goods or services, such as entertainment or transportation, including sexual harassment, differential pricing, and denial of services because they are pregnant or breastfeeding. (5) Regular and ongoing discrimination against LGBT people, as well as women, in accessing public accommodations contributes to negative social and economic outcomes. (6) Both LGBT people and women face widespread discrimination in employment and various services, including by entities that receive Federal financial assistance. Such discrimination— (A) is particularly troubling and inappropriate for programs and services funded wholly or in part by the Federal Government; (B) undermines national progress toward equal treatment regardless of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity; and (C) is inconsistent with the constitutional principle of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. (7) Workers who are LGBT, or are perceived to be LGBT, have been subjected to a history and pattern of persistent, widespread, and pervasive discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity by private sector employers and Federal, State, and local government employers. (8) Numerous provisions of Federal law expressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, and Federal agencies and courts have correctly interpreted these prohibitions on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex stereotypes. In particular, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has explicitly interpreted sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. (9) The absence of explicit prohibitions of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity under Federal statutory law, as well as some conflicting case law on how broadly sex discrimination provisions apply, has created uncertainty for employers and other entities covered by these laws. This lack of clear coverage also causes unnecessary hardships for LGBT people. (10) LGBT people often face discrimination when seeking to rent or purchase housing, as well as in every other aspect of obtaining and maintaining housing. LGBT people in same-sex relationships are often discriminated against when 2 names associated with 1 gender appear on a housing application, and transgender people often encounter discrimination when credit checks or inquiries reveal a former name. (11) National surveys, including a study commissioned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, show that housing discrimination against LGBT people is very prevalent. For instance, when same-sex couples inquire about housing that is available for rent, they are less likely to receive positive responses from landlords. According to other studies, transgender people have half the homeownership rate of non-transgender people and about 1 in 5 transgender people experience homelessness. (12) As a result of the absence of explicit prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, credit applicants who are LGBT, or perceived to be LGBT, have unequal opportunities to establish credit. LGBT people can experience being denied a mortgage, credit card, student loan, or many other types of credit simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. (13) Numerous studies demonstrate that LGBT people, especially transgender people and women, are economically disadvantaged and at a higher risk for poverty compared with other groups of people. (14) The right to an impartial jury of one’s peers and the reciprocal right to jury service are fundamental to the free and democratic system of justice in the United States and are based in the Bill of Rights. There is, however, an unfortunate and long-documented history in the United States of attorneys discriminating against LGBT individuals, or those perceived to be LGBT, in jury selection. Failure to bar peremptory challenges based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual not only erodes a fundamental right, duty, and obligation of being a citizen of the United States, but also unfairly creates a second class of citizenship for LGBT victims, witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants. 3. Public accommodations (a) Prohibition on discrimination or segregation in public accommodations Section 201 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000a ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking stadium and all that follows and inserting stadium or other place of or establishment that provides exhibition, entertainment, recreation, exercise, amusement, gathering, or display; ; (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) any establishment that provides a good, service, or program, including a store, shopping center, online retailer or service provider, salon, bank, gas station, food bank, service or care center, shelter, travel agency, or funeral parlor, or establishment that provides health care, accounting, or legal services; (5) any train service, bus service, car service, taxi service, airline service, station, depot, or other place of or establishment that provides transportation service; and . (b) Prohibition on discrimination or segregation under law Section 202 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000a–1 ) is amended by inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin . (c) Rule of construction Title II of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 208. Rule of construction A reference in this title to an establishment— (1) shall be construed to include an individual whose operations affect commerce and who is a provider of a good, service, or program; and (2) shall not be construed to be limited to a physical facility or place. . 4. Desegregation of public facilities Section 301(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000b(a) ) is amended by inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin . 5. Desegregation of public education (a) Definitions Section 401(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000c(b) ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin . (b) Civil actions by the Attorney General Section 407 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000c–6 ) is amended, in subsection (a)(2), by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin . (c) Classification and assignment Section 410 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000c–9 ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin . 6. Federal funding Section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d ) is amended by inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin, . 7. Employment (a) Rules of construction Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended by inserting after section 701 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ) the following: 701A. Rules of construction Section 1106 shall apply to this title except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section to an unlawful practice shall be considered to be a reference to an unlawful employment practice . . (b) Unlawful employment practices Section 703 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–2 ) is amended— (1) in the section header, by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; (2) except in subsection (e), by striking sex, each place it appears and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; (3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking enterprise, and inserting enterprise, if, in a situation in which sex is a bona fide occupational qualification, individuals are recognized as qualified in accordance with their gender identity, ; and (4) in subsection (h), by striking sex the second place it appears and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, . (c) Other unlawful employment practices Section 704(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–3(b) ) is amended— (1) by striking sex, the first place it appears and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; and (2) by striking employment. and inserting employment, if, in a situation in which sex is a bona fide occupational qualification, individuals are recognized as qualified in accordance with their gender identity. . (d) Claims Section 706(g)(2)(A) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (2000e–5(g)(2)(A)) is amended by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, . (e) Employment by Federal Government Section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–16 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking sex and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, . (f) Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 The Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16a et seq.) is amended— (1) in section 301(b), by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; (2) in section 302(a)(1), by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: 305. Rules of construction and claims Sections 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin shall be considered to be a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability . . (g) Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 201(a)(1) ( 2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1) ) by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin, ; and (2) by adding at the end of title II ( 42 U.S.C. 1311 et seq. ) the following: 208. Rules of construction and claims Sections 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to section 201 (and remedial provisions of this Act related to section 201) except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin shall be considered to be a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability . . (h) Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 Chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 2301(b)(2), by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ; (2) in section 2302— (A) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin, ; and (B) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin; ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: 2307. Rules of Construction and claims Sections 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this chapter (and remedial provisions of this title related to this chapter) except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin shall be considered to be a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, a handicapping condition, marital status, or political affiliation . . 8. Intervention Section 902 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000h–2 ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national origin, . 9. Miscellaneous Title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 1101 through 1104 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000h et seq. ) and sections 1105 and 1106 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000h–5 , 2000h–6) as sections 1102 through 1105 and sections 1108 and 1109, respectively; (2) by inserting after the title heading the following: 1101. Definitions and Rules (a) Definitions In titles II, III, IV, VI, VII, and IX (referred to individually in sections 1106 and 1107 as a covered title ): (1) Race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity; national origin The term race , color , religion , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , or national origin , used with respect to an individual, includes— (A) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and (B) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, respectively, of the individual. (2) Gender identity The term gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth. (3) Including The term including means including, but not limited to, consistent with the term's standard meaning in Federal law. (4) Sex The term sex includes— (A) a sex stereotype; (B) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (C) sexual orientation or gender identity. (5) Sexual orientation The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. (b) Rules In a covered title referred to in subsection (a)— (1) (with respect to sex) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition shall not receive less favorable treatment than other physical conditions; and (2) (with respect to gender identity) an individual shall not be 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. ; and (3) by inserting after section 1105 the following: 1106. Rules of construction (a) Sex Nothing in section 1101 or the provisions of a covered title incorporating a term defined or a rule specified in that section shall be construed— (1) to limit the protection against an unlawful practice on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition provided by section 701(k); or (2) to limit the protection against an unlawful practice on the basis of sex available under any provision of Federal law other than that covered title, prohibiting a practice on the basis of sex. (b) Claims and remedies not precluded Nothing in section 1101 or a covered title shall be construed to limit the claims or remedies available to any individual for an unlawful practice on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin including claims brought pursuant to section 1979 or 1980 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1983 , 1985) or any other law, including a Federal law amended by the Equality Act, regulation, or policy. (c) No negative inference Nothing in section 1101 or a covered title shall be construed to support any inference that any Federal law prohibiting a practice on the basis of sex does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a sex stereotype. 1107. Claims The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq. ) shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title. . 10. Housing (a) Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 802, by adding at the end the following: (p) Gender identity , sex , and sexual orientation have the meanings given those terms in section 1101(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (q) Race , color , religion , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , handicap , familial status , or national origin , used with respect to an individual, includes— (1) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin, respectively, of the individual. ; (2) in section 804, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, each place that term appears; (3) in section 805, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, each place that term appears; (4) in section 806, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, ; (5) in section 808(e)(6), by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: 821. Rules of construction Sections 1101(b) and 1106 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title and section 901, except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section 1101(b) or 1106 to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this title and section 901 . 822. Claims Section 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title and section 901, except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section 1107 to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this title and section 901 . . (b) Prevention of intimidation in fair housing cases Section 901 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3631 ) is amended by inserting sexual orientation (as such term is defined in section 802 of this Act), gender identity (as such term is defined in section 802 of this Act), after sex, each place that term appears. 11. Equal credit opportunity (a) Prohibited discrimination Section 701(a)(1) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691(a)(1) ) is amended by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after status, . (b) Definitions Section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691a ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) The terms gender identity , sex , and sexual orientation have the meanings given those terms in section 1101(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ). (g) The term race , color , religion , national origin , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , marital status , or age , used with respect to an individual, includes— (1) the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or age, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or age, respectively, of the individual. ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (j) Sections 1101(b) and 1106 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title, except that for purposes of that application— (1) a reference in those sections to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this title ; and (2) paragraph (1) of such section 1101(b) shall apply with respect to all aspects of a credit transaction. . (c) Relation to State laws Section 705(a) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691d(a) ) is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex . (d) Civil liability Section 706 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691e ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (l) Section 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title, except that for purposes of that application, a reference in that section to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this title . . 12. Juries (a) In general Chapter 121 of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) in section 1862, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, ; (2) in section 1867(e), in the second sentence, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex, ; (3) in section 1869— (A) in subsection (j), by striking and at the end; (B) in subsection (k), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (l) gender identity , sex , and sexual orientation have the meanings given such terms under section 1101(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and (m) race , color , religion , sex , sexual orientation , gender identity , economic status , or national origin , used with respect to an individual, includes— (1) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, or national origin, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, or national origin, respectively, of the individual. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: 1879. Rules of construction and claims Sections 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this chapter, except that for purposes of that application, a reference in those sections to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this chapter . . (b) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections for chapter 121 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1879. Rules of construction and claims. .