M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Members of the Town Council
From: Sue Ellen Loyzelle, Vice Mayor
Date: July 17, 2019
Re: Supporting United States Senate Bill 788 - The “Equality Act”
REQUEST
title
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO APPROVE SENATE BILL 788, ALSO KNOWN AS “THE EQUALITY ACT,” WHICH WILL SERVE TO EXTEND FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER, (“LGBT”) AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BODY
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On March 13, 2019, the United States Senate introduced Senate Bill 788, entitled the “Equality Act,” which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation.
On May 17, 2019, the United States House of Representatives version of Senate Bill 788, Bill H.R. 5, also entitled the “Equality Act” and identical in use, passed; extending federal anti-discrimination protections to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Americans.
On May 22, 2019, the City of Miami Beach passed Resolution No. 19-30837 urging the United States Senate to approve Senate Bill 788, as no action has been taken beyond referring the bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Protecting civil rights is an essential part of the democratic values of the United States, and should be of paramount importance to all of us.
It is my opinion that civil rights are secured by positive government action in an attempt to guarantee full and equal citizenship for people who have traditionally been discriminated against on the basis of some group characteristic. Therefore, I strongly request my fellow Council Members to urge the United States Senate to pass Senate Bill 788, entitled the “Equality Act.”
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council adopt the attached Resolution, supporting the passage of United States Senate Bill 788, entitled “The Equality Act.”
ATTACHMENT(S)
Ø Attachment “A” - United States Senate Bill 788
Ø Attachment “B” - City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 19-30837