Schumer to McConnell: House Passed Equality Act, Now It's Senate's Turn

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the chamber to take up a House-passed anti-discrimination bill.

The Equality Act made it through the House by a 236-173 margin in a Friday vote. A short time later, Schumer posted a tweet aimed at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"🏳️‍🌈 Americans should be very proud today! 🏳️‍🌈 The House just passed the bipartisan #EqualityAct. Because NO American should face discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love," Schumer wrote. "Now it's time for @SenateMajLdr McConnell to hold a vote in the Senate."

The Equality Act would be tacked onto the 1964 Civil Rights Act and would prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity by employers, school systems, and other bodies.

Several states have some form of religious freedom laws that allow business owners to deny service to people based on their religious beliefs. In one notable case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex wedding based on his Christian beliefs.

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