Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) voted in favor of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which passed the House today and ensures LGBTQ Americans are guaranteed the full protections of various civil rights laws.

“Every day in our nation, an American is discriminated against because of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Phillips. “In Minnesota, we have already enshrined the protections included in the Equality Act, and it has made our state stronger. It’s in that spirit that I proudly voted today for civil rights protections for every member of the LGBTQ family throughout our country.”

The Equality Act amends existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in education, employment, housing, credit, Federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of Federal funds.

The bill has the support of more than 200 of the nation’s leading businesses, including Minnesota-based Best Buy, Cargill, Ecolab, General Mills, Target and U.S. Bancorp.

###