Congressional Equality Caucus

@equality.house.gov

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Congressional caucus committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and around the world. Led by Chair @repmarktakano.bsky.social linktr.ee/equalitycaucus

Equality Caucus celebrates defeat of trans military ban amendment, condemns passage of other anti-LGBTQI+ NDAA amendments
Freedom of religion is a fundamental American value and there are already religious exemptions provided by both federal nondiscrimination laws and, when appropriate, the Constitution. We should not create a new carve-out to 501(c)(3) requirements that prioritize only certain religious practices. The Congressional Equality Caucus urges the Ways & Means Committee to REJECT H.R. 9722.
It’s settled law: the IRS can revoke or deny 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to organizations that illegally discriminate on the basis of race or are otherwise engaged in practices “contrary to public policy.” Republicans want to change that. This would not just carve out practices related to interracial and same-sex marriage. It would also create a long-term backdoor exemption to nondiscrimination laws.
Instead of applying the same standards to all tax-exempt organizations, H.R. 9722 creates a different standard for religious organizations by permanently exempting them from the 501(c)(3) requirement that they not engage in practices “contrary to public policy” when it comes to their practices that relate to marriage, sexuality, and gender identity—no matter how clearly illegal those actions are.
Institutions seeking tax-exempt status must serve a public purpose and not be contrary to established public policy. Applying this standard in the 1970’s, the IRS revoked Bob Jones University’s tax-exempt status because the school was illegally discriminating against interracial couples. This bill seeks to overturn that precedent—and would have wider implications as well.
Republicans on the Ways & Means Committee are pushing a bill to exempt religious nonprofits from longstanding requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations in order to: 1) overturn 50 years of precedent that protect interracial couples; 2) open up LGBTQI+ people to discrimination. Here’s what you need to know about H.R. 9722:
Republicans want to add three anti-LGBTQI+ amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. CODIFYING TRUMP’S TRANS MILITARY BAN; TRANS HEALTHCARE BAN for transgender servicemembers and dependents, including banning mental healthcare for servicemembers’ trans children; EMPOWERING CHILD PREDATORS by subjecting DoDEA students who want to participate in athletics to invasive exams of their bodies to “prove” their genders.
Republicans want to add three anti-LGBTQI+ amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. Amendment #19: BANNING HEALTHCARE FOR TRANS SERVICEMEMBERS & MILITARY DEPENDENTS. This amendment prohibits TRICARE from covering or furnishing “gender-related medical treatment,” defined to include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for transgender people. It also amends the existing ban on TRICARE covering certain gender dysphoria treatments for people under 18 to also ban mental health care for transgender young people.
The House just defeated a Republican-led effort to codify Trump's trans military ban!
Republicans want to add three anti-LGBTQI+ amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. CODIFYING TRUMP’S TRANS MILITARY BAN; TRANS HEALTHCARE BAN for transgender servicemembers and dependents, including banning mental healthcare for servicemembers’ trans children; EMPOWERING CHILD PREDATORS by subjecting DoDEA students who want to participate in athletics to invasive exams of their bodies to “prove” their genders.
Equality Caucus Condemns Advancement of GOP Bills Undermining Title IX’s Protections, Data Collection
We urge the committee to reject H.R. 8781 & H.R. 4986.
This bill will increase burdens on parents and schools without making any significant change in parents’ rights—all because the sponsor wants to limit data collection relating to LGBTQ+ student experience and student and mental health. Parents, and local school districts don’t need paper mandates & bureaucratic burdens handed to them from DC politicians pushing an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.
H.R. 4986 would, among other provisions, prohibit schools from administering surveys relating to certain topics unless the student’s parent provides written consent beforehand for each survey. Current law already requires parents to be notified of these surveys and for parents to have the opportunity to opt their children out. This bill would mandate an opt-in system because the sponsor wants to undermine LGBTQ+ data collection and mental health screenings.
H.R. 8781 would undermine key protections for LGBTQ+ students. But this isn’t limited to just LGBTQ+ students—Title IX’s protections for ALL students, including from sex stereotyping discrimination and sexual harassment, would be undermined.
H.R. 8781 re-defines sex in Title IX to refer to “an individual’s biologically determined sex” The point? According to the bill sponsor office it’s to prevent “future administrations from reinterpreting the law to include gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Republicans are marking up TWO anti-equality bills today. Here’s what you need to know about H.R. 8781 and H.R. 4986:
Before a FIVE WEEK RECESS, the GOP is pushing three anti-LGBTQI+ bills & several anti-LGBTQI+ amendments to the NDAA instead of solutions for Americans. Nothing to lower gas prices. Nothing to make food safer. Nothing to make living more affordable. Americans deserve better.
Anti-equality Republicans were never going to stop at trans inclusion. LGBTQNation: "Heritage Foundation now targeting women's sports after SCOTUS' anti-trans sports ruling. Project 2025's architects say that Title IX and women's sports harm men's sports and "feminine graces." Democratic Women's Caucus and Congressional Equality Caucus logos.
Equality Caucus Condemns House Passage of anti-LGBTQI+ FY27 National Security, State Department Appropriations Bill
Equality Caucus Chair Rips Advancement of GOP Bill Limiting Parents’ Rights, Bankrupting Doctors for Providing Trans-Related Care
The Congressional Equality Caucus urges the House Judiciary Committee to oppose H.R. 7651, which would ban trans healthcare for young people and bankrupt countless doctors, clinics, and hospitals throughout the country.
There are already laws that protect patients whose providers deviate from the established standards of care. This bill isn’t designed to protect patients or families. It’s designed to bankrupt providers and ban evidence-based care, even when providers follow the established standard of care.
This bill is so extreme it opens up providers to lawsuits even if they provided this care BEFORE the bill is enacted. This bill won’t fix the Republican Healthcare Crisis or lower healthcare costs for Americans, but it would bankrupt countless doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals—making it harder for EVERY American to access healthcare.
H.R. 7651 would effectively ban trans-related healthcare for transgender people under 18 by intimidating providers with threats of expensive lawsuits—preventing parents of transgender young people from making personal medical decisions with their families and doctors.
Under this bill, anyone who received trans-related healthcare before turning 18 would be able to sue providers, clinics, and hospitals—even if the provider followed the established standards of care.
Republicans are trying to restrict parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their trans children by banning medically necessary care for trans people under 18—all while bankrupting countless healthcare providers. Here’s what you need to know about H.R. 7651:
Equality Caucus Leaders Slam Trump Admin’s Rescission of Rule Guaranteeing Safe Foster Placements
NPR: "Trump's HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care" Read more at the link in our bio.
Advocate: "Judge presses Trump Administration over revoked retirements for transgender Air Force troops." Read more at the link in our bio.
“LGBTQI+ rights are human rights” written multiple times in the colors of the Pride flag
PEPFAR has saved more than 26 million lives in the worldwide fight against HIV & AIDS since 2003. Trump and the GOP are attacking it anyways.
Reuters: “Russia jails club owner and two employees under ban on 'LGBT movement'.” Read more at the link in our bio.
“Liberty and justice for all” over a rainbow and the U.S. Capitol
You deserve sunshine. IMAGE: A Pride flag waves in front of the U.S. Capitol.
On this day in history: President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. IMAGE: President Johnson surrounded as he signs the CRA.
Advocate: "Transgender troops just won a major ruling in their fight against Trump's military ban." Read more at the link in our bio.
Equality Caucus condemns SCOTUS ruling upholding anti-trans sports bans.
"Pride is still a protest" in the colors of the rainbow and over a rainbow.
57 years since Stonewall. June 28, 1969.
Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano
Equality Day. Celebrating the LGBTQI+ victories at the Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas, U.S. v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges. June 26 — 2003, 2013, and 2015.
Equality Caucus Slams Advancement of GOP Anti-LGBTQI+ Education Bills
The Congressional Equality Caucus urges the Committee on Education and Workforce to REJECT H.R. 5505 and protect students from discrimination.
H.R 5505 would effectively force schools to decide between their federal funding or requiring their minority students to subsidize their own discrimination. The right to believe is a fundamental American value, but the right to discriminate is not.
H.R. 5505 would prohibit Higher Education Act funding to public institutions of higher education that refuse to recognize or provide funding and other benefits to religious student groups because of the group’s religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct. This means that schools would be forced to provide these benefits to student religious groups that actively discriminate against minority students or risk losing key federal funds.
Many schools have nondiscrimination policies, sometimes called “All-Comers” policies, that require recognized student groups to allow any student to join & seek a leadership position. These rules are intended to prevent recognized student groups from discriminating against students, including on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity.
Republicans on the House Education Committee are marking up a bill that would empower some student organizations at public universities to discriminate against minority students. Here’s what you need to know about H.R. 5505, the so-called “Equal Campus Access Act.”
House GOP funding bill cuts over $1 billion from lifesaving HIV & AIDS programs. Read more at the link in our bio.
Celebrating 54 years of Title IX. IAMGE: Collage of pro-Title IX signs, rallies, and advocates.
Takano, Schakowsky Lead 68 Members in Opposing FCC Censorship of Trans Characters & Topics
Celebrating Juneteenth. Emancipation Day — June 19, 1865.
“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” President Barack Obama, June 2013
Pride matters because right now, someone out there believes they don’t belong or don’t deserve love simply because of who they are.
Welcome to the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Analilia Mejia (New Jersey's 11th District)
Celebrating six years since the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County.
Equality Caucus remembers lives lost at Pulse Nightclub, 10 years later.