Democrats say federal LGBT protections needed

Maureen Groppe | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats said Monday they'll push for federal legislation to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in states that lack broad non-discrimination laws.

"It's time for Congress to weigh in on what is happening across the country," said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who heads the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. "The recent examples of legislation in Indiana and Arkansas are not where we are as a country. It's not who we are as Americans. And Congress needs to lead on this."

A "religious freedom" law that Indiana passed last month sparked vocal protests that businesses in the state could now deny wedding services to gay couples. That prompted state lawmakers and Gov. Mike Pence to amend the law to make clear that's not the intent.

Likewise, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson requested changes to similar legislation in his state that was opposed by Walmart and others.

"In the wake of the backlash of Indiana's misguided law, it is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of discrimination," Democratic Rep. Andre Carson of Indiana said Monday.

Carson plans to introduce a nonbinding resolution this week expressing lawmakers' view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace, businesses, schools and elsewhere.

The resolution is intended as a prelude to legislation to be introduced later this spring by Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island.

"Most Americans would be surprised to learn that, in most states, a gay couple can be married on Saturday, post photos of their wedding on Sunday and then be fired on Monday for no reason other than the fact that they are gay," said Cicilline.

For either of their proposals to pass the GOP-controlled Congress, Carson and Cicilline will need to win support from some Republicans.

Ten Republicans helped pass a Senate bill in 2013 to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but the House didn't vote on the measure.

The bill Cicilline plans to introduce will be a broad civil rights measure, fashioned after the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It would protect the LGBT community from discrimination in housing, public spaces, schools, the workplace and other areas.

Cicilline said federal legislation is needed to cut through the patchwork of laws across the country that prevent everyone from enjoying basic rights and protections.