The House has passed the Equality Act, historic civil rights legislation that bans discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Democrats unanimously voted in favor, and eight Republicans joined them.
The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding through contracts or assistance, financial credit, and the jury system. Thirty states still lack protections for LGBTQ Americans and a federal law would extend protections nationally.
This followed some tension within the Democratic caucus, knowing that Republicans were going to offer a motion to recommit to try to inject a poison pill into the bill. The Republicans buckled, though, and offered a really weak and bogus amendment arguing against something that was very peripheral to the whole discussion: protecting girls and women in sports from having to compete against trans athletes, an argument California Rep. Katie Hill ripped to shreds. There were massive efforts by conservative groups to try to frame the debate on this bill around religious liberty, so it was strange to see House Republicans completely dropping that ball.
There has been some scrambling in the last few days, however, by right-wing commenters to argue that the Equality Act would be a "setback for women." Maybe this was House Republicans trying to pretend like they're standing up for women's rights in the wake of the abortion debacles of the week. If so, it was a massive fail.
For your viewing pleasure, Rep. Katie Hill.