Today, Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation joined a coalition of more than 150 local, state, and national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) organizations in calling on Congress to swiftly pass the Equality Act. 

The Equality Act, introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives, is a landmark nondiscrimination and civil rights bill that would update existing federal laws to protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.  It has broad and deep support across lines of political party, demographics, and geography with 83 percent of Americans saying they favor LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.

“Throughout the commonwealth, LGBTQ individuals families, friends, business owners and faith leaders have shown their support for the Equality Act,” said Sarah Rosso, Executive Director of Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation.  “This legislation is long overdue and is an important step forward to make sure all Americans have equal protections under the law.  We are committed to mobilizing communities across Western Pennsylvania to make sure our lawmakers know this is about people, not politics”.   

Discrimination is still commonplace for LGBTQ Americans, including here in Western Pennsylvania.  Opponents of LGBTQ equality continue to file discriminatory bills in our commonwealth and across the country in an attempt to undermine existing protections in adoption, marriage and access to basic public services and businesses.  According to a 2020 study, one in three LGBTQ Americans faced discrimination in the previous year, including three in five transgender Americans.  The Equality Act would ensure that all LGBTQ Americans can live, work and access public spaces free from discrimination, no matter what state or county they call home.  

For more information email: info@hughlane.org or call: (412)-973-5053 

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Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization working to improve the health of LGBTQ+ and HIV communities across western Pennsylvania.