Charlotte, NC - Today the Equality Act was introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in the U.S. Senate and Representative Cicilline (D-RI) in the U.S. House of Representatives, including co-sponsors Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and John Lewis (D-GA).

Equality Federation hails the momentous decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that Title VII of the 1967 Civil Rights Act includes protection from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Previously, the EEOC found that gender identity-based discrimination against transgender Americans is also prohibited by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Equality Federation condemns new legislation introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID), the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), that would allow individuals and organizations to discriminate against millions of Americans—including LGBT people, single mothers, unmarried couples, same-sex couples and others—based on their marital status.

In just a few days, more than 170 advocates from across the country will gather in Charlotte to connect and forge relationships, collaborate for future success, and build momentum toward even greater wins in the communities we call home.

Kellan Baker is a Senior Fellow with the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he works on a range of LGBT health issues with the federal government and other national and state stakeholders.

New polling shows entrepreneurs strongly believe small business owners should not be able to refuse goods or services to LGBT individuals, or deny services related to same-sex weddings, based on owner’s religious beliefs.