OP-ED: Congress Must Pass Senator Baldwin’s Equality Act

As we commemorate International Non-Binary Peoples’ Day and celebrate gender diversity, we all must do our part to ensure every Wisconsinite can live authentically without fear of discrimination.

pride flag
pride flag

As we commemorate International Non-Binary Peoples’ Day and celebrate gender diversity, we all must do our part to ensure every Wisconsinite can live authentically without fear of discrimination.

That includes our elected lawmakers, who have a duty to uphold all of our freedoms, regardless of how we identify, what we look like, or who we love. That’s why Wisconsin’s Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin is helping lead the charge on passing the Equality Act – a bill that would protect non-binary people and others across the nation by making it illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ Americans.

Baldwin cited in her introduction of the Equality Act that state legislatures have introduced nearly 500 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and Wisconsin is no exception.

Just this month, Republican state legislators Barbara Dittrich and Dan Knodl circulated a pair of bills that would unjustly target LGBTQ+ youth who play sports. Earlier in the year, legislative Republicans voted in favor of allowing harmful conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth, and tried to prohibit access to gender affirming care in Wisconsin.

Our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, family, and loved ones deserve better.

Last year, Baldwin was successful in getting the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act signed into law by President Biden, a bill that guarantees federal protections for same-sex couples. This year, we must ensure that success continues on with the Equality Act because – at the end of the day – we all deserve the same freedoms to be who we are, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Together, we can disregard division from far-right politicians and create communities across Wisconsin that are equitable and inclusive for all. This International Non-Binary People’s Day, call your federal representatives at (202) 224-3121 and demand they support passage of the Equality Act.

# # #

A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.

wisconsin republican tom tiffany talking with his mouth open
wisconsin republican tom tiffany talking with his mouth open

On Medicaid’s 61st Birthday, Tom Tiffany Hopes It's the Last

Tiffany voted to gut the program and kick more than 200,000 Wisconsinites to the curb without care

Image related to Campaign Finance Records Reveal GOP Sen. Howard Marklein is Bankrolled by Billionaires
Image related to Campaign Finance Records Reveal GOP Sen. Howard Marklein is Bankrolled by Billionaires

Campaign Finance Records Reveal GOP Sen. Howard Marklein is Bankrolled by Billionaires

At a time when the state and country are in the midst of a huge affordability crisis, Marklein is getting 84% of his campaign cash from the ultra-rich and well-connected

Image related to Less Than 1% of Michele Magadance Skinner’s Campaign Support Comes From Within District She’s Running to Represent
Image related to Less Than 1% of Michele Magadance Skinner’s Campaign Support Comes From Within District She’s Running to Represent

Less Than 1% of Michele Magadance Skinner’s Campaign Support Comes From Within District She’s Running to Represent

Skinner was recently forced to reveal that her campaign for Wisconsin state senate is being funded nearly exclusively by MAGA billionaires