CATHOLICS FOR CHOICE: SENATE MUST PASS THE EQUALITY ACT

CATHOLICS FOR CHOICE: SENATE MUST PASS THE EQUALITY ACT 

WASHINGTON — Today, Catholics for Choice, which lifts up the voices of the majority of Catholics who believe in reproductive freedom and equality for all people, called on the Senate to pass H.R. 5, The Equality Act, after it passed the House, 224-206. This legislation, introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would ban all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in the United States.

Catholics for Choice President Jamie L. Manson said the following:

“Safeguarding all people against any form of discrimination must be a moral imperative of this country and our leaders. The fact that, in most of the United States, an LGBTQ person can be married on Sunday but denied housing, credit, public accommodations, and other aspects of the public square on Monday, solely because of their gender identity and/or sexual orientation, goes against the claimed values of this nation. We stand with the majority of Catholics in this country who support federal anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, and as a queer woman and Catholic theologian, I can confidently state this legislation aligns with my faith. The time for equality was yesterday. Pass the Equality Act now.”

Despite the Supreme Court’s legalizing same-sex marriage and affirming employment protections for LGBTQ people, there is still a complete lack of standard non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in most of the United States. In most states, LGBTQ people are still vulnerable to discrimination in housing, credit, public accommodations, jury service, education, and other aspects of the public square.

The Equality Act is overwhelmingly supported by Americans. A recent poll by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that 83% of respondents supported legislation like the Equality Act; this is consistent with polling in recent years.

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Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to a person’s well-being and respect and affirm the capacity of all people to make moral decisions about their lives.