Democratic presidential candidates
Hillary Rodham Clinton and Martin O'Malley have endorsed a bill that
seeks to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in all areas of civil rights
law.
If approved, the bill, titled the
Equality Act, would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in seven key
areas, including credit, education, employment, federal funding,
housing, jury service and public accommodations, by effectively
expanding the Civil Rights Act, originally approved in 1964.
O'Malley, the former governor of
Maryland, was first to signal his support.
“I proudly support the new LGBT civil
rights bill – we must continue to fight for a more open, respectful
& inclusive nation #EqualityAct -O'M,” he tweeted.
Clinton also endorsed the legislation
in a tweet.
“The Equality Act will mean full
federal equality for LGBT Americans & stronger
anti-discrimination protections for everyone. Past time. -H,” she
messaged.
According to the Washington Blade,
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will co-sponsor the legislation.
“He believes that these protections
are long overdue,” a
spokesman said. “Vermont has banned discrimination based on
sexual orientation since 1992 and gender identity since 2007.”