Freedom For All Americans fighting for Equality

Did you know that across America, 13 million LGBTQ people are vulnerable to discrimination in their everyday lives? It’s true—we hear these stories of discrimination every day:

• In Michigan, a pediatrician refused to see Krista and Jami’s 6-day-old baby for her first checkup, because her parents are a same-sex couple.
• In Indiana, U.S. Army veteran Jessica couldn’t get her military records changed to reflect her gender and new name, even though she was a member of the first group of soldiers to be deployed during the Iraq War.
• In Texas, an H&R block agent said he couldn’t do Kim and Debbie’s taxes “in good conscience” because they’re a married couple.
• In Ohio, Théo thought he had found the perfect apartment. But when the landlord learned Théo is transgender, he forced him out—and as a result, Théo had to drop out of school and move in with his parents.
• In Arizona, Jim and Bob were harassed at their retirement community simply because they’re a married couple. The harassment got so bad they concluded the community wasn’t safe, and had to move—a huge financial burden.
• And in Montana, a landlord told Kathleen that they wouldn’t “rent to your kind” when Kathleen mentioned her fiancée Casey and their son.

In 29 states—including all the states above—there are no laws that explicitly protect LGBTQ people from being discriminated against at work, when looking for a place to live, or when trying to access public spaces and services. This patchwork of protections leaves too many people behind.

There is a solution: The Equality Act. The Equality Act would update federal law to ensure explicit nondiscrimination protections in key areas of life, including employment, housing, education, and public spaces—like restaurants and shops—for all LGBTQ people, no matter what zip code they call home.

Freedom for All Americans is the bipartisan campaign to win these nondiscrimination protections nationwide, with our ultimate goal being to secure federal statutory protections like the Equality Act.

Our work brings together Republicans and Democrats, businesses large and small, people of faith, and allies from all walks of life to make the case for comprehensive nondiscrimination protections that ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally.

America is clearly ready for this legislation. The House vote was a bipartisan 224-206, and a recent survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that 76 percent of Americans support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, including 62 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of independents and 85 percent of Democrats. 

The Equality Act has also been endorsed by a broad coalition that includes more than 300 businesses, 50 trade and professional associations, and 500 advocacy organizations. And thousands of American faith leaders of all denominations have urged Congress to pass these protections as well. The same PRRI survey shows majorities of all major American religious denominations support LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination protections. 

Funding from CREDO will help FFAA run highly individualized education and lobbying campaigns targeting conservative senators in 11 states, to provide both personal and public pressure and achieve the 60 Senate votes needed to pass the Equality Act.

Vote now for Freedom for All Americans to receive crucial fundraising support from CREDO.