The Equality Act Turns 40
In May of 1974, New York Representatives Bella Abzug and Ed Koch introduced the “Equality Act” into Congress. Largely viewed as the first “gay rights” bill ever to be introduced at the federal level, the Equality Act would have barred discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment, housing and public accommodations. It’s unfortunately a bittersweet anniversary; 40 years later — in a year when we’ve seen the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL and same-sex marriage bans are falling across the country on a weekly basis — we still lack federal anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.