Last month, I wrote my representative in Congress telling her to vote no on the Equality Act (as well as to oppose the associated Executive Order), and why. I just got a letter from her in response, and am thinking about what to write back.
Here's what she said:
Thank you for contacting me regarding legislation to strengthen legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBTQ+) Americans. Your thoughts are important.
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage is a guaranteed right under the Constitution. However, millions of LGBTQ+ Americans still face the threat of experiencing discrimination across all areas of life including the workplace, public spaces, housing, and education based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
Last Congress, Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced the Equality Act. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 17, 2019, but it was not advanced in the Senate. On February 18, 2021, Rep. Cicilline reintroduced the Equality Act (H.R. 5) to extend critical civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ Americans. The legislation would modify existing civil rights laws to provide comprehensive anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ Americans in the areas of employment, housing, education, federal funding, credit, jury service, and public accommodations. The House passed the Equality Act on February 25, 2021, with my support.
All Americans, regardless of background, should have the ability to live dignified lives free from discrimination. Equal treatment under the law is a fundamental American principle, and this vital legislation will advance long-overdue safeguards against discrimination for LGBTQ+ Americans. I am an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, and it is my hope the Senate swiftly passes this legislation. Discrimination has no place in out nation, and I will continue working with my colleagues to uphold these values and ensure LGBTQ+ individuals are free to fully participate in American society without fear of discrimination.
This is clearly a form letter on the subject; none of the points that I made, or concerns that I expressed, are addressed. (Basically, I explained what "gender" is, how it's distinct from-- and harmful to those whose identity is based on-- "sex", thus why TQ+ doesn't belong with LGB and is antithetical to our interests. I also identified myself as both a liberal/progressive and a bisexual woman, incidentally.) So maybe it's a waste of time for me to respond. Still, I don't like to let such cluelessness stand.
Any suggestions about what I might say? Especially from those who've read the Act itself and are, unlike myself, fluent in legalese? Would it help if I posted my original letter here? Or do you think that she's just a lost cause? And so I'm justified in not bothering (and therefore indulging my laziness!)?
Also, I just thought that I should share this evidence of where Democratic legislators are with regard to the Equality Act, and TQ+ in general. (Which you could probably guess, of course, but seemed like the straight-from-the-horse's-mouth-ness might be valuable in its own right.)
[–]our_team_is_winning 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[+][deleted] (3 children)
[deleted]
[–]BEB 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - (2 children)
[+][deleted] (1 child)
[deleted]
[–]BEB 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]BEB 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun - (2 children)
[–][deleted] 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]BEB 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]BEB 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 4 insightful - 6 fun4 insightful - 5 fun5 insightful - 5 fun5 insightful - 6 fun - (1 child)
[–]BEB 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]HelloMomo 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Finnegan7921 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)