Biden tells Americans to fight state anti-LGBTQ bills, pass Equality Act

President Joe Biden used the occassion of National Coming Out Day to call on Americans to defeat anti-LGBTQ bills in the state legislatures, and for the U.S. Senate to finally pass the Equality Act into law.

Republicans in states like neighboring Wisconsin are engaged in a fight to ban trasngender and gender non-conforming students from competing in state and college-level athletics competitions.

Furthermore, Republicans in other states want to ban transgender persons from using the public accomodation, like a restroom or locker room, of their particular gender identity.

"Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done," he said.

"Anti-LGBTQ bills still proliferate in state legislatures. Bullying and harassment, particularly of young transgender Americans and LGBTQ people of color, still abounds, diminishing our national character," the president continued.

Ultimately, the Equality Act would create the strongest measure of protection of LGBTQ civil rights in almost all aspects of life. Having passed the U.S. House, it only now needs a Senate vote to become law.

The Equality Act would add LGBTQ people to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, protecting them from discrimination in employment, housing, banking, public accomodations, and much more.

For example, churches would no longer be able to discriminate against LGBTQ employees or stop LGBTQ people from using services and venues offered to the general public.