<p>Earlier this year the House of Representatives passed the <strong>Equality Act</strong> a piece of legislation that would establish federal LGBTQI nondiscrimination laws in employment housing education public accommodations federal funding jury service and credit. This bill the result of decades of organizing and advocacy would be the first of its kind if it was signed into law. Its protections are desperately needed as 28 states still have not outlawed LGBTQI discrimination. With new leadership in Congress and the White House that supports the Equality Act we have a critical opportunity to secure a historic step forward for LGBTQI justice and inclusion in America.</p><p><span>Now the Equality Act needs the approval of the Senate where it faces more obstacles.&nbsp;</span>Recently the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Equality Act but is still awaiting a vote. We also heard that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and their conservative allies have mounted campaigns that are flooding the Senate and White House with calls from Catholics opposed to the Equality Act.</p><p><strong>We need to raise our voices in support of the act NOW!</strong></p><p>DignityUSA is working with over 15 other organizations to remind Senators that <span style=text-decoration: underline;>over 70% of US Catholics support the Equality Act.&nbsp;</span>[1]<strong> Will you make some calls to bring that message to your Senators?</strong></p><p>Right now it is most urgent that the members of the Judiciary Committee hear from Catholic supports of this bill. If one of your Senators is on the Judiciary Committee <strong><span style=text-decoration: underline;>make your call now!</span></strong></p><p><i><span style=text-decoration: underline;>Catholic Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee</span></i></p><p>Sen. Dick Durbin IL</p><p>Sen. Patrick Leahy VT</p><p>Sen. Alex Padilla CA</p><p>Sen. Tom Tillis NC</p><p>Sen. Chris Coons DE (attends a Catholic church)</p><p><i><span style=text-decoration: underline;>Other Judiciary Committee Members</span></i></p><p>Sen. Chuck Grassley IA</p><p>Sen. Lindsey Graham SC</p><p>Sen. Dianne Feinstein CA</p><p>Sen. John Cornyn TX</p><p>Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse RI</p><p>Sen. Michael Lee UT</p><p>Sen. Amy Klobuchar MN</p><p>Sen. Ted Cruz TX</p><p>Sen. Ben Sasse NE</p><p>Sen. Richard Blumenthal CT</p><p>Sen. Joshua Hawley MO</p><p>Sen. Mazie Hirono HI</p><p>Sen. Tom Cotton AR</p><p>Sen. Cory Booker NJ</p><p>Sen. John Kennedy LA</p><p>Sen. Jon Osoff GA</p><p>Sen. Marsha Blackburn TN</p><p></p><p>Need your Senators phone number? Find it at <a href=https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm>https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm</a></p><p><strong><span style=text-decoration: underline;>When you call</span></strong></p><ul><li>Identify yourself as a <strong>Catholic who supports the Equality Act</strong></li><li>Remind the Senator (or staff) <strong>that over 70% of US Catholics support nondiscrimination against LGBTQ+</strong></li><li>State your reason for supporting the Equality Act: what protections against nondiscrimination for LGBTQ+ people are most important to you.</li><li>Tell the Senator that the Equality Act <strong>does not infringe on religious freedom</strong>; its purpose is to protect individuals from discrimination based on identity.</li><li>Ask for the Senator to <strong>vote it favorably out of the Committee</strong> and to support it on the Senate Floor</li></ul><p>Now is our <span style=text-decoration: underline;>best chance</span> for passage of the Equality Act. We know there are a number of Republican Senators who want to vote for it and need constituent support to do so. The first step is to get support from the Judiciary Committee.</p><p>Raise you voice for justice. Call your Senator and ask them to support the Equality Act and inclusion for all.</p><div>_<br><div><p>[1] Public Religion Research Institute 2018 American Values Atlas</p></div></div>