On May 17, 2019, in a historic vote, the US House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which would provide comprehensive and explicit nondiscrimination protections nationwide for the LGBTQ community, ensuring that nobody is discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. The vote marked the first time that a chamber of Congress approved a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill covering LGBTQ people.

In response, GLMA Executive Director Hector Vargas, JD, issued the following statement:

“Today we celebrate the US House of Representative’s historic and bipartisan vote to pass the Equality Act in support of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for the LGBTQ community. As an organization of healthcare providers and professionals, GLMA and its members see firsthand what the research shows--that discrimination, stigma, and bias significantly and adversely impact the physical and mental well-being of LGBTQ people. Today’s action is not just a step toward preventing discrimination in virtually every aspect of everyday life, including healthcare settings, but is also a measure that can have lasting positive impact on the health and wellness of our communities. We are grateful to the House leadership and all House members who supported the Equality Act, and we now look to the Senate to pass the Equality Act without delay and ensure discrimination against LGBTQ individuals has no place in our society.”