Thread by @cmclymer

So, today is particularly meaningful for me in light of what I experienced last summer. I was discriminated against for being a proud transgender woman. I was harassed, degraded, and physically assaulted at a restaurant in downtown D.C. (thread)

#EqualityAct

I was at a bachelorette party with about a dozen girlfriends. We were having a great time, and near the end of the evening, I went to use the restroom and was asked to show ID. When I refused and went inside to one of the stalls, the male employee followed in moments later.

I could hear him searching every stall (in a crowded women's restroom) and then leaving a bit later. When I exited the restroom, he was waiting there with the manager, another man. I was asked to show ID again, and I refused, citing D.C. law. I showed this law to the manager.

He refused to acknowledge the law and threatened to call the police. I told him he should do that. He then had his bouncer grab me and forcibly shove me out of the restaurant as my girlfriends and countless others watched along in horror.

Now... as traumatic and degrading as this was, my story has a happy ending. The police who responded were affirming and supportive and confirmed D.C. law. The Mayor of D.C. spoke out against the restaurant's illegal actions along with countless feminist and LGBTQ leaders.

The CEO of the restaurant worked with me in good faith to develop LGBTQ-inclusive policies for all his locations and made a generous contribution to a local LGBTQ org. The restaurant was fined by the D.C. Attorney General, putting other businesses on notice to comply w/ D.C. law.

I experienced traumatic discrimination, but because a legal framework was in place to protect my rights--because police and elected officials affirmed my rights--I was able to get justice and D.C. businesses got the message that discrimination is unacceptable.

This is how things should work when LGBTQ discrimination occurs, but I consider myself lucky because for LGBTQ people living in most of the United States, these non-discrimination protections aren't available. Example: in 30 states, you can still be fired for being LGBTQ.

Let me emphasize that: in 30 states, LGBTQ people can literally be fired because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Not their work performance or character but solely because they're LGBTQ. And it's not just employment.

In most of the country, LGBTQ people are still vulnerable to being evicted from their homes, denied services, denied credit, and discriminated against in the public square, including schools, because of their sexual orietnation and/or gender identity. So, what can be done?

Today, the Equality Act is being reintroduced in Congress, which would finally provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's civil rights laws:

https://twitter.com/HRC/status/1105861072483803136

And here's the great news: it has overwhelming, bipartisan support. More than 70% of Americans support this legislation. 165 major businesses and 288 national and statewide organizations have enthusiastically endorsed this bill, saying it's long overdue.

There is broad consensus from Americans that we need this legislation, but first, it has to get passed by Congress. Today, it's being introduced in the House, where it will surely pass, and it is essential that Sen. Mitch McConnell bring this to a floor vote in the Senate.

Our country is deeply divided on so many issues, but here we have the chance to unite on such a common sense view: LGBTQ Americans should never face discrimination.

So, what can you do? Text "Equality Act" to 472472 and then call your senators and representatives in Congress.

Tell them that the American people have so many things to worry about and this--the simple view that discrimination in wrong--should not be one of them. Tell them to support the Equality Act and ensure every person, regardless of background, is truly free in this country. /thread