Resolution 981 – Supporting the passage of the Equality Act

WHEREAS, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee has a long history of opposing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex; and

WHEREAS, it is a uniting principle of our democracy that individuals should be able to fully participate in society. Discrimination undermines both individual and societal stability; and

WHEREAS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people commonly experience discrimination in credit, education, employment, housing, government funded programs, jury service, and public accommodations such as stores, restaurants, and transportation services; and

WHEREAS, women commonly experience discrimination in government funded programs and public accommodations, including sexual harassment, differential pricing and denial of services in places such as stores, restaurants, and transportation services; and

WHEREAS, regular and ongoing discrimination contributes to negative social, health and economic outcomes; and

WHEREAS, states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii. Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington plus the District of Columbia have laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex in employment, housing, and public accommodations; and

WHEREAS, Members of Congress have carefully crafted a federal solution to discrimination against LGBT people and women, the Equality Act.

WHEREAS Washington State Democratic Central Committee finds that federal laws fully prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex are essential to furthering the wellbeing of the residents and visitors of Washington State.

WHEREAS The WSDCC affirms that LGBTQ+ people and women have a right to live free from discrimination in the core aspects of their lives included but not limited to, employment, education, housing, public accommodations, all government funded programs and jury service.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the WSDCC call upon Congress to pass the Equality Act to ensure that federal civil rights laws are fully inclusive of protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex.

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the WSDCC will send end a copy of this resolution, duly adopted, to Members of Congress representing Washington State; Senator Merkley, Representative Cicilline, the Director of the LGBT Congressional Equality Caucus and President.

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