May 7, 2021
On the Eve of Mother’s Day Weekend, More than 1,000 Mothers Across the Country Urge U.S. Senate to Pass Equality Act, Ensure LGBTQ Children are Protected from Discrimination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the eve of Mother’s Day weekend, more than 1,000 mothers from 46 states and Washington, D.C. came together to call on the U.S. Senate to ensure LGBTQ children are protected from discrimination by passing the Equality Act — historic federal legislation that would modernize and improve our nation’s civil rights laws by including explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people and women, and expanding protections for women, people of color, people of all faiths, and national origins.
In an open letter organized by Freedom & Opportunity For All — a national campaign advocating for the urgent passage of the Equality Act — the more than 1,000 mothers said that Mother’s Day is an opportunity to remember that, “our work to protect our children isn’t finished yet — especially for mothers of LGBTQ children.”
“This Mother’s Day, we are demanding action,” the mothers wrote in the open letter. “As mothers, we are asking you to pass the Equality Act to level the playing field for everyone, guaranteeing that LGBTQ children are extended the same federal anti-discrimination protections that other Americans have enjoyed for decades.”
Currently, 29 states do not have laws that explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. Without the Equality Act, LGBTQ people remain vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, kicked out of a business that’s open to the public, denied health care, removed from a jury, or denied government services in a majority of states simply because of who they are.
With nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ people having reported experiencing discrimination in their personal lives, the Equality Act would level the playing field for everyone, guaranteeing that LGBTQ people are extended the same federal anti-discrimination protections that others in the United States have enjoyed for decades. It would also extend protections to millions of women who aren’t covered under some existing federal anti-discrimination laws and expand the public spaces and services that can’t discriminate against anyone based on race, national origin, or religion.
"As a mother, it is important that every member of my family has equal protection under the law, but that's not the case,” said Jennifer Solomon, President of PFLAG South Miami and parent to four wonderful kids, including a lesbian daughter and gender-nonconforming son. “Without the Equality Act, right now some of my kids can do or be anything they want, or go anywhere they want. For two of my kids, their rights are limited. We need the Equality Act now, so moms like me can stop worrying about limitations set by the law on our children.”
Support for the Equality Act among the more than 1,000 mothers reflects the broad and growing support for the Equality Act mirrored in communities across the country. Recent polling from Hart Research Associates finds that 70 percent of Americans (including 50 percent of Republicans) support the Equality Act.
To date, a majority of Americans, hundreds of members of Congress, hundreds of advocacy organizations, and more than 60 business associations — including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers — have endorsed the Equality Act. More than 400 major U.S. companies — including dozens of Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, Apple, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, and Kellogg — have endorsed the Equality Act because they believe it is good for their employees and their businesses. Collectively, these companies have headquarters based in 33 states overseeing operations in all 50 states, and generate a collective revenue of $6.8 trillion. In total, these companies employ more than 14.6 million people across the United States.
The full letter from the more than 1,000 mothers can be found here and below.
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May 7, 2021
To Members of the U.S. Senate,
This week, we’re celebrating the moms, grandmothers, aunts, and mothering people in our lives — and the work they do for us every single day. But Mother’s Day also serves as a reminder: Our work to protect our children isn’t finished yet - especially for mothers of LGBTQ children.
Today, nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ people have reported experiencing discrimination in their personal lives. No one’s civil rights should depend on the state or zip code they live in — but in the 29 states that lack explicit protections, LGBTQ people are at risk of being refused housing or evicted from their homes, kicked out of a business that’s open to the public, and denied health care or government services simply because of who they are. LGBTQ children deserve to have a fair chance of providing a safe home for their families and accessing essential services without fear of harassment or discrimination.
This Mother’s Day, we are demanding action.
As mothers, we are asking you to pass the Equality Act to level the playing field for everyone, guaranteeing that LGBTQ children are extended the same federal anti-discrimination protections that other Americans have enjoyed for decades.
The Senate must pass this legislation, which would also extend protections to millions of women who aren’t covered under some existing federal anti-discrimination laws and modernize the public spaces and services that can’t discriminate against anyone based on race, color, national origin, or religion. As lawmakers, you have the power to fight for LGBTQ kids and make sure that happens.
Americans share the bedrock value that every person deserves to be treated equally under the law. That is why the Equality Act is a unifying issue for our nation, with support from an overwhelming majority — more than 70 percent — of Americans spanning age, race, religion, and partisan groups; more than 400 major U.S. businesses; faith and civil rights leaders; major statewide and national organizations; and communities in every corner of the country.
Moms do not back down when it comes to protecting our children. So this Mother’s Day, we are urging the Senate to swiftly pass this historic legislation, which represents a critical step toward ensuring that America lives up to our foundational values of equality and freedom for all.
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Freedom & Opportunity For All is a national campaign advocating for the urgent passage of the Equality Act — historic federal legislation that would modernize and improve our nation’s civil rights laws by including explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people, as well as women, people of color, and people of all faiths. The campaign — supported by hundreds of the nation’s top leaders in civil rights, faith, education, health care, and advocacy — is co-founded and led by 16 of the nation’s leading advocates for equality, including Center for American Progress; Equality Federation; Freedom for All Americans; GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders; GLSEN; Human Rights Campaign; Lambda Legal; National Black Justice Coalition; National Center for Lesbian Rights; National Center for Transgender Equality; National LGBTQ Task Force; National Women's Law Center; PFLAG National; SAGE; Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund; and The Trevor Project. More information can be found at www.PassTheEqualityAct.com.
About the Equality Act: Currently, 29 states do not have laws that explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. Without the Equality Act, LGBTQ Americans remain vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, kicked out of a business that’s open to the public, denied health care, or denied government services in a majority of states simply because of who they are. The Equality Act would provide clear, consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across critical areas, including housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. The Equality Act also extends protections to millions of women — who aren’t covered by some existing federal anti-discrimination laws — to ensure they don’t have to live in fear of harassment or discrimination. In addition, it modernizes public accommodations law to provide increased protections to people of color and people of all faiths.