On Wednesday, Democrats in both chambers of Congress resurrected a proposal to extend federal nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ+ Americans, vowing to pass the landmark civil rights legislation that in the past has failed to garner enough bipartisan support. The Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, economic status, sex, and national origin, to further prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday said the legislation is necessary to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination against the backdrop of rising anti-LGBTQ violence, rhetoric, and policies. Rep. Mark Takano, the bill’s primary sponsor in the House and one of 12 openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers in Congress said during a news conference, “We are filing this bill during Pride Month, a time of celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on a time when being out was nearly impossible." Currently, no federal law prohibits anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and most states do not explicitly protect LGBTQ+ residents from bias or inequity in key areas of life. Democrats pointed to last year’s Respect for Marriage Act, which passed both chambers with bipartisan support, as an indicator that Congress may finally get the Equality Act across the finish line this year. #LGBTQ+ Civil Rights