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
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) will host a post office renaming ceremony in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen on Monday, November 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the United States Post Office (USPS) facility located at 99 Macombs Place in New York, which will be renamed as the “Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building” following passage of Rep. Espaillat’s bill, H.R. 4406, which was signed into law earlier this year.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in response to a report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its handling of the separation of families at the southern border under President Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement in support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a landmark bill that ushered in transformative progress to protect all Americans from violence and abuse, and continues to provide essential support to victims, survivors and communities to ensure they have the legal tools and resources necessary to seek justice and receive care.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement and video to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on September 20, 2017.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement to address the need for more diversity and inclusion on congressional staff following a report released this week by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Join Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) on Monday, September 17th at 10:00 a.m. at the Fort George Community Enrichment Center located at 1525 St Nicholas Avenue for a press conference to announce the expansion of the Head Start program at the Fort George Community Enrichment Center, Inc. to serve more families and youth throughout New York’s 13th congressional district.
NEW YORK, NY – Today, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) released the following statement to mark Women’s Equality Day and recognize the 98th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, when women gained the right to vote.
Representative Adriano Espaillat REUNITES HONDURAN MOTHER, ROSA AMELIA, WITH HER SEPARATED children
Rosa Amelia Peralta and Family Marks the Third Reunification Following Rep. Adriano Espaillat’s Engagement with the Cayuga Center. Rep. Espaillat Continues His Efforts Calling for the Reunification of All Immigrant Families.