Dear San Franciscan, 

On behalf of LGBTQ San Franciscans and all Americans, I am incredibly proud to have voted to pass H.R. 5, the Equality Act in the House of Representatives today. With this critical legislation, we are one step closer to finally, fully ending discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, and moving our nation closer to fulfilling the promise of equality, opportunity and justice for every American. 

Congresswoman Pelosi held a press conference with House and Senate Democrats to introduce H.R. 5, the Equality Act.

This historic legislation says, unequivocally, that LGBTQ Americans deserve the full protections guaranteed by federal civil rights laws. The Equality Act extends anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans with regard to employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations. It does so by adding sex in some places where it had not previously been protected, and clarifying that sex includes sexual orientation and gender identity. 

San Francisco is blessed with a large and vibrant LGBTQ community and a strong history of advocacy for equal rights for all. Since my first day in Congress, ending discrimination against the LGBTQ community and advancing full equality has been a top priority. We have made great strides by passing historic, fully-inclusive hate crimes legislation, tossing the hateful “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy into the dustbin of history and defeating the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act in the courts. 

But our work is not done. House Democrats will continue fighting until we end discrimination in our military, in the workplace and in all places. We will never rest until full equality has been achieved for the LGBTQ community.

To learn more about my work in Washington and San Francisco to serve our country and our city, please sign up to receive my weekly electronic updates.