Crucially, the bill would largely trump “religious liberty” arguments, a point that has led many Republicans to chafe at what they see as a lack of exemptions for discrimination based on someone’s religious beliefs.
Transgender community advocates have long championed the legislation and see its passage as essential.
Also on Thursday, a Senate panel considered the nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine, President Joe Biden’s choice for assistant health secretary.
If approved, Levine would be the first out transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.
Those events on Thursday were momentous. But this week also offered several reminders that, in obvious ways, anti-transgender bigotry in the US endures.
“It was a statement I felt very necessary. … I felt as though she needed to hear from us,” the Democratic congresswoman told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on “New Day,” when asked about the flag.
Newman continued: “You know, I’m immensely proud of my daughter, and that’s all anyone is asking for, is to be treated as anyone else, and that’s what I want Rep. Greene to see.”
It wasn’t just Greene who voted against the Equality Act on Thursday. In 2019, eight House Republicans supported the Equality Act; only three GOP members did this time around. It’s also worth pointing out that Republican Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida and Elise Stefanik of New York voted for the Equality Act in 2019 but not on Thursday.
(Reps. Greg Walden, Susan Brooks and Will Hurd — the three other Republicans who backed the Equality Act in 2019 — no longer serve in Congress.)
“Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed,” Levine explained to Paul.
“If I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the assistant secretary of health, I will look forward to working with you and your office and coming to your office and discussing the particulars of the standards of care for transgender medicine,” she added.
All told, the dominant mood this week was guarded optimism. Transgender Americans are making strides in the fight for their rights. At the same time, there are those ready to keep equality just beyond reach.
Source: CNNPolitics – Breaking News
