After the Equality Act passed the House in May 2019, I was excited. It reminded me of that sweet summer day in 2015 when the Supreme Court ruled that required all state laws recognize same-sex marriages.
Love won the day.
The Equality Act is particularly important to educators and students nationwide, not just those who are LGBTQ+.
As a gay man and educator, I’m ecstatic about the provisions in the bill protecting sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the act, “discrimination can occur on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes.” How can any legislator not know that each of these factors alone is a form of sex discrimination?
I’m hoping for debate in the Senate. One that will stir up the more than 200 civil rights organizations that have endorsed the bill, including NEA.
Ratification of the Equality Act would provide the means for educators to be able to report harassment and discrimination for being LGBTQ+.
At school, forms of discrimination can include exclusion that prevents the full participation of LGBTQ+ people at school and in society.
For many students who identify as LGBTQ+, school can be a very threatening place.
The Equality Act would promote safer schools because it would allow educators who are LGBTQ+ to be their authentic selves and serve LGBTQ+ students who don’t’ always see themselves represented in the adult ranks at our nation’s schools.
Passage of the bill would allow teachers, education support professionals, and administrators to speak up and come out of the proverbial closet to help students succeed.
As educators entrusted with the care of our nation’s youth, we must rally our union forces, colleagues, friends, and family to achieve full protections for LGBTQ+ people–and that includes advocating for the Equality Act until it becomes law.
