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Secure a Prosperous Future for All by Strengthening Nondiscrimination Protections

No one should be fired, evicted or denied service in public places because of who they are. But LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimation based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Further, research shows that the social, economic, and health effects of stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people costs a state tens of millions of dollars each year. This policy would create a fairer state by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity for things like jobs, housing, public accommodations, schools.

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Passed In
California Colorado Colorado (2) Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Iowa Illinois Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island Virginia Vermont Washington
Introduced In
Alaska Arizona Georgia Idaho Indiana Kentucky Missouri Mississippi North Carolina Nebraska Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Wisconsin West Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does this policy help?
This policy helps everyone by stopping unnecessary economic losses and other costs of discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation. The U.S. economy loses approximately $64 billion each year from losing and replacing more than 2 million LGBTQ+ workers who leave or lose their jobs due to discrimination. Outside of work, many LGBTQ+ people report that discrimination has cost them their homes, access to education, and being able to live in the state of their choosing.
Is this high cost for the state?
No. In fact, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has collectively cost states billions of dollars annually through increased unemployment and worker turnover, increased Medicaid spending due to loss of employer-sponsored health insurance, and higher rates of poverty and homelessness. Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people are protected under the law would increase employment and overall economic activity, and decrease poverty, homelessness, and other adverse outcomes that are also costly for states.
Partners
  • LGBTQ+ rights advocates
  • Public health officials
  • Workers’ rights advocates
  • Human rights advocates
  • Businesses looking to attract and retain talent
Opposition
  • Special interests that oppose human rights
  • Businesses that have an interest in being allowed to discriminate
In The News
U.S. News
Support for LGBT Nondiscrimination, Marriage Equality Hits All-Time High
Support for anti-discrimination laws and marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgende...
Read The Article
Forbes
Survey: More Than 1 In 3 LGBTQ Youth Experience Discrimination At Work
A new research report that examines the discrimination young people face in the workplace finds an a...
Read The Article
Model Policy
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SECTION 1 (TITLE):
This act shall be known as the STATE Nondiscrimination Protection Extension Act
SECTION 2 (PURPOSE):
To prevent discrimination against people on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, credit, jury systems, and state programs.
SECTION 3 (PROVISIONS):

(a) STATE anti-discrimination laws with regard to public accommodations, education, employment, housing, credit, jury systems, and state programs are hereby amended to include protections against discrimination on the basis of
-(i) Sex,
-(ii) Sexual orientation, and
-(iii) Gender identity
(b) Definitions
-(i) The term ‘sex’ includes (A) a sex stereotype; (B) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition; and (C) sex characteristics, including intersex traits.
-(ii) The term ‘sexual orientation’ means identity, or another individual’s perception thereof, in relation to the gender or genders to which the individual is sexually or emotionally attracted
-(iii) The term ‘gender identity’ means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not that gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth.

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