Civil Rights and Equality
Congressmember Adriano Espaillat is a tireless advocate of civil rights, and has been a champion for the LGBTQ community. As one of his first acts in Congress, he joined the LGBT Equality Caucus.
Congressmember Espaillat was also an original cosponsor of the Equality Act of 2017.
- The Equality Act ensures that the same protections already extended to other protected classes are equally available to LGBT Americans. It amends existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, Federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of Federal funds.
- In some of these areas, federal law prohibiting sex discrimination has already been properly interpreted by federal courts and administrative agencies to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
- The Equality Act affirms that understanding of existing law and makes the prohibition against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity explicit, in order to provide greater clarity to members of the public, employers, schools, businesses and other affected parties. In areas where sex discrimination is not already prohibited, the bill amends existing law to bar discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Congressmember Espaillat is also a member of the Pro Choice Caucus, and has been vocal about Equal Pay for Equal Work.
More on Civil Rights and Equality
NEW YORK, NY – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), was joined by several New York state and city elected officials in the district to announce the Harlem Manifesto, a series of legislative policies to urge for the end of police brutality and targeting of African Americans throughout the nation.
NEW YORK, NY – Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led members of the New York City Congressional Delegation to issue the following statement regarding the field hospital in Central Park operated by Samaritan's Purse.
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) issued the following statement to call for the case involving the assassination of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, known as Malcolm X, be reinvestigated with the use of modern technology following the Netflix docuseries "Who Killed Malcolm X?"
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) voted to pass H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, to hold employers accountable for violating workers' rights, end the use of forced arbitration and strengthen the sacred right to join in union.
NEW YORK, NY – Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement on the anniversary of the Trump administration's Muslim ban and actions taken as recently as last week to add six additional countries to the administration's restricted travel list, many from regions where Muslims and others face immense violence and persecution.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow the Trump Administration's Public Charge rule to go into effect while the merits of the case continue to be argued in lower courts.
WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, February 26, 2020 starting at 12:00 p.m. EST, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will host an event to honor African American achievement and highlight individuals making a difference for residents and families in New York's 13th congressional district.