The Equality Act is a piece of legislation that seeks to provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service). It would amend existing civil rights law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. The Act provides a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. The Equality Act would also expand public accommodations protections for people of color, women, and people of faith.

The Equality Act is controversial, with many Republicans opposing it, fearing that it would infringe upon religious objections. Supporters argue that the Equality Act simply extends basic, broadly accepted tenets of the Civil Rights Act to classes of people that the bill doesnt explicitly protect. The Democratic-led House passed the Equality Act, but it still needs to pass the Senate to become law.