News & Commentary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 17, 2019CONTACT: Mia Jacobs, 201-919-0333, mjacobs@aclu.orgWASHINGTON — The House of Representatives passed The Equality Act (H.R. 5,)  by a 236-173 margin today.This vote marks the first time in U.S. history that a chamber of Congress has advanced legislation providing for nationwide, explicit, and comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. The legislation also fills significant gaps in our federal civil rights laws for all women and people of color, clarifying that everyone is protected under the law.Ronald Newman, national political director at the ACLU, had the following response:“This vote is a monumental step forward in the fight for true, lived equality for LGBTQ people. For too long, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and especially transgender and non-binary members of our communities have had to live with the constant threat of discrimination and harassment. This law would protect them from being fired from their jobs if they came out as trans, turned away from a business serving the public because of their gender presentation, or denied a lease agreement if they applied with their same-sex partner.

By Zakiya Summers, Director of Communications & Advocacy

By Zakiya Summers, Director of Communications and Advocacy

By Hannah Cox, National Manager, Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty

WASHINGTON — For the first time since President Trump issued his Muslim ban, Congress proposed legislation today to protect Muslims and immigrant communities from discriminatory bans.

Nusrat Choudhury, Deputy Director , ACLU Racial Justice Program & Malkia Cyril, Executive Director, Center for Media Justice

The 2019 #msleg ended on March 29, 2019. Here is a list of bills that survived and were signed by the Governor.

Update 3/27: The Mississippi House followed suit, voting 69-46 to make Mississippi the 15th state to call for a convention of the states.