Biden marks National Coming Out Day with an attack on Republican states' 'anti-LGBTQ laws' and a push to sign the Equality Act

'Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done,' Biden said in a statement

'Anti-LGBTQ+ bills still proliferate in state legislatures,' the president continued

The House passed the Equality Act in February but the Senate has not yet taken it up
Republicans claim the bill could infringe on religious liberty

By MORGAN PHILLIPS, POLITICS REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 16:43 EDT, 11 October 2021 


President Biden issued a statement to celebrate National Coming Out Day as he slammed anti-LGBTQ bills in GOP-led states and pushed for Congress to pass the Equality Act.

Biden already signed an executive order on his first day in office that outlined protections for gay and trans people in housing, healthcare and education

The House passed the Equality Act in February with three Republican votes, and the Senate has not yet taken it up.

The bill would amend existing civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, and would extend to employment, housing, loan applications, education, public accommodations and other areas.

Republicans said the bill could infringe on religious liberty.

Some warned that faith-based adoption agencies seeking to place children with a married mother and father could be forced to close, or that private schools would have to hire staff whose conduct violates tenets of the school's faith.

'Today and every day, I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know that you are loved and accepted just the way you are,' Biden said on Monday.

Biden already signed an executive order on his first day in office that outlined protections for gay and trans people in housing, healthcare and education. It called on federal agencies to review existing regulations and revise them if necessary to underline that 'sex' as a protected characteristic included sexual orientation and gender identity.

He also signed an executive order reversing a Trump-era ban on most transgender people serving in the military.