Tag Archives: Bella Abzug

The Equality Act Gets Reintroduced to Congress. Again.

The Equality Act Gets Reintroduced to Congress Once Again.

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , , ,

Maybe the 27th time will finally be the charm.

Today Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Rep. Mark Takano and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in leading the reintroduction of the Equality Act, landmark legislation to expand LGBT+ civil rights in America.

The Equality Act would amend existing civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. The bill would also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in public accommodations and federally funded programs, while expanding the definition of public accommodations in the Civil Rights Act. Especially for states that have no LGBT protections on the books.

An estimated 8.1 million LGBT workers age 16 and older live in the United States. Nearly half of these workers—3.9 million people—live in states without statutory protections against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment.

The long embattled Equality Act was originally introduced into Congress over 49 years ago on January 14, 1974 by Bella Abzug.

Gay History - 1974: The Equality Act Introduced to Congress and We Are Still Waiting

Gay History – January 14 1974: 49 Years Ago OTD Bella Abzug Introduces the First Equality Act to Congress

Featured, Gay History, , , ,

In 1974, gay activists in New York City were fighting to pass a city-wide gay rights ordinance. Then NY Representative to Congress Bella Abzug (pictured above), inspired by the emergence of the first national gay rights organization, the then newly formed National Gay Task Force (NGTF), had the idea to circumvent local homophobes by introducing federal legislation that would give gays and lesbians full FEDERAL equality under the law.

Enlisting the co-sponsorship of Ed Koch (D-NY), (the closeted New York Congressman who would go on to become the mayor of New York City), Abzug courageously introduced the Equality Act on  January 14th of 1974 — the first piece of federal legislation to address discrimination based on sexual orientation. The act would amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, or sexual orientation in public accommodations, public facilities, public education, federally assisted programs, housing, and financial services. Anticipating contemporary “hate crime” legislation, the act further stipulated penalties for anyone who willfully injured, intimidated, or interfered with a person on the basis of sex, marital status, or sexual orientation and empowered the U.S. Attorney General to take civil action against such discrimination

Of course it failed.

In 1975, the National Gay Task Force urged Abzug and Koch to try again. This time, the pair got twenty-four members of Congress (including themselves) to co-sponsor their proposed legislation: the Civil Rights Amendment of 1975. Bruce Voeller, director of the NGTF, along with NGTF national coordinator Nathalie Rockhill, organized a press conference on Capitol Hill, inviting prestigious organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Organization for Women (NOW), to attend. Rockhill was slated to introduce Congresswoman Abzug, who would then explain the bill to the press. The Civil Rights Amendment of 1975, Abzug explained as she spoke into the microphone, would extend the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 to protect gays and lesbians in all of the areas covered by the proposed Equality Act of 1974; and like the Equality Act, the amendment would penalize anyone who discriminated against someone on the basis of their sexual orientation.

And once again the bill did not pass.

Continue reading Gay History – January 14 1974: 49 Years Ago OTD Bella Abzug Introduces the First Equality Act to Congress →

Nancy Pelosi Calls Passage Of LGBT Equality Act A 'Priority'

Nancy Pelosi Calls Passage Of LGBT Equality Act A ‘Priority’ Despite Biden Team’s Backpedaling

Featured, Gay History, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , , , ,

A few weeks ago we reported that the Biden administration backpaddled on the LGBT Equality Act and the promise Joe Biden made during his election campaign that the Equality Act would be one of the first bills that would be passed and signed into law during his first 100 days because now they fear that they don’t have enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill with the razor thin new Democratic majority.

Regardless of the worry about Senate passage this week House Majority leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called passage of the Equality Act a “priority.” and that the House could vote on the legislation as early as March.

“I’m optimistic about it because I do think we will get strong bipartisan support in the House and in the Senate. We passed it in the last Congress. No success in the Senate. It went to Mitch McConnell’s graveyard, the ‘grim reaper,’” ” Pelosi said

Pelosi called the Equality Act “an early priority for us.” “And again, it’s about ending discrimination,” she added.

The Equality Act has faced a long and hard road since it was introduced it’s first time in Congress in 1973 by Bella Abzuz. Since then it has gone through, different incarnations: Notably as The Civil Rights Amendment of 1975 and since 1994 The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). ENDA was introduced in every Congress from the 110th. to the 115th. without passing.

Now almost 50 years later the Equality Act will be introduced once again in the hopes of it becoming law. Will this finally be the time that it passes both the House and the Senate and makes it to Joe Biden’s desk to sign?

Only (more) time will tell.

Harvey Fierstein to Play Bella Abzug in New Off B'way Solo Show

Harvey Fierstein to Play Bella Abzug in New Off B’way Solo Show

Entertainment, Featured, Gay History, , , ,

In a press release “Bella Bella” is described as “raucous, heart-rending and absurdly humorous.” A synopsis gives the following description of the show:

The Manhattan Theater Club announced on Thursday that its 2019-20 season will include the world premiere of “Bella Bella,” a new solo show written by and starring Harvey Fierstein, which casts him as Bella Abzug, the outspoken New York congresswoman and activist.

Set in 1976, on the eve of her bid to become New York State’s first female Senator, “Bella Bella” finds this larger-than-life, truth-slinging, groundbreaking, hat-wearing icon squirreled away in the bathroom of a midtown hotel awaiting that night’s election results while a coterie of family and celebs await her entrance.

Harvey Fierstein’s breakthrough gay play, “Torch Song Trilogy,” in which was recently revived on Broadway under the name “Torch Song.” He has written the book for the musicals “Kinky Boots” and “La Cage Aux Folles.”

It is poetic justice that a longtime gay activist like Fierstein play Ms. Abzug who steadfastly fought for LGBT rights and courageously introduced the original version of the Equality Act on May 14th of 1974 in Congress  — the first piece of federal legislation to address discrimination based on sexual orientation.