Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties

Discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity

103 public statements from 2026 candidates · 1 related bill

§1The range of views

Why this matters: It decides whether gay and transgender people can bring federal discrimination claims outside the workplace, and how such protections would apply to religious groups and businesses.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether federal law should bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public places such as stores, federally funded programs and other areas, as the Equality Act would, beyond the job protections the Supreme Court recognized in 2020.1,2,3

  1. Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act
  2. Add protections with broad exemptions for religious groups and businesses
  3. No new federal protections; leave it to the states

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Pass broad protections such as the Equality Act (62)

  • Amanda N. Pusczek AL-4
    Her campaign website says she supports passing the Equality Act to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.4
  • Mai Vang CA-7
    Her campaign website says she will vote to pass the Equality Act and restore federal nondiscrimination protections.5
  • John Garamendi CA-8
    His campaign website says he supports the Equality Act, which it says would bar discrimination against LGBT Americans in the workplace, housing and public accommodations.6
  • Connie Chan CA-11
    Her campaign website says she would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or sex in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and the military, and cosponsor the Equality Act.7
  • Scott Wiener CA-11
    His campaign website says he would champion passage of the Equality Act.8
  • Lateefah Simon CA-12
    Her campaign website says she supports protecting LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV from discrimination at work, at school and in public places, and writing the rights of transgender, nonbinary and intersex people into law.9
  • Gil Cisneros CA-31
    His campaign website says he cosponsored the Equality Act and will keep pushing for federal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.10
  • Brad Sherman CA-32
    His campaign website says he helped introduce the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in housing, employment, education and public accommodations.11
  • Jimmy Gomez CA-34
    His campaign website says he is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, which would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, employment and federal funding.12
  • Marni von Wilpert CA-48
    Her campaign website says she would work to pass the Equality Act so the protections Californians have are guaranteed nationwide.13
  • Mike Levin CA-49
    His campaign website says he cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act.14
  • Melat Kiros CO-1
    Her platform supports a federal Trans Bill of Rights with explicit protection from discrimination and says the Equality Act must be passed.15
  • Joe Neguse CO-2
    His campaign website says he is working to pass the Equality Act.16
  • Jason Crow CO-6
    His campaign website says he cosponsored the Equality Act.17
  • Luke Bronin CT-1
    His campaign website says he will fight to pass the Equality Act.18
  • Jim Himes CT-4
    His campaign website says he cosponsored the Equality Act and helped pass it in the House.19
  • Jahana Hayes CT-5
    Her campaign website says she supports the Equality Act.20
  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's platform supports the Equality Act and making protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity the law in all 50 states.21,22
  • Darren Soto FL-9
    A 2018 Spanish-language page still on his campaign website says he will work to pass the Equality Act to protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in employment, housing and education.23
  • Kimberly Overman FL-12
    Her campaign platform says she supports the Equality Act and will co-sponsor and advocate for it.24
  • Lois Frankel FL-23
    Her campaign website says she is one of the original cosponsors of the Equality Act, a bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in employment, housing, education, credit and other areas.25
  • Lucy McBath GA-6
    Her campaign website says she supports expanding protections for LGBTQ+ people and that she fought to pass the Equality Act, which it says would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in areas including the workplace, housing and credit.26
  • Delia Ramirez IL-3
    Her campaign website says she co-sponsored the Equality Act to guarantee nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQI+ people in housing, employment, education and federally funded programs.27
  • Sean Casten IL-6
    His campaign website lists cosponsoring the Equality Act, which it says would extend nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs and jury service.28
  • La Shawn K. Ford IL-7
    His campaign website says he will work to advance the Equality Act and restore nondiscrimination protections.29
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he will pass the Equality Act, which it says bans discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, education, health care and public services.30
  • Brad Schneider IL-10
    His campaign website says he strongly supported the Equality Act and helped introduce the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and that the Senate should pass the Equality Act.31
  • Eric Sorensen IL-17
    His campaign website says he helps lead the reintroduction of the Equality Act to codify federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in housing, employment and public spaces.32
  • Drew Cox IN-4
    His campaign website says he will fight to pass the Equality Act.33
  • J.D. Ford IN-5
    His campaign platform says he would pass the Equality Act to ensure no American faces discrimination in housing, employment or public spaces.34
  • Brad A. Meyer IN-9
    His campaign website says he supports full federal protections so that every person can live, work and raise a family with dignity and freedom.35
  • Megan Wingfield KY-2
    Her campaign website says she supports nationwide protections for transgender and non-binary people, a federal ban on conversion therapy and family leave protections for all LGBTQ+ families.36
  • Morgan McGarvey KY-3
    His campaign website says he will be a vote for and a cosponsor of the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.37
  • "Matt" Gromlich LA-4
    His campaign website lists the Equality Act, which it says prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity and sexual orientation, among legislation he will support on day one.38
  • Edward J. Markey MA Senate
    His campaign website says he is working to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in employment, housing, health care and education under federal law, and lists him as an original cosponsor of the Equality Act.39
  • Richard E. Neal MA-1
    His campaign website says he supports the Equality Act.40
  • Ayanna S. Pressley MA-7
    Her campaign website says she advocated for the Equality Act.41
  • Stephen F. Lynch MA-8
    His campaign website says he has co-sponsored the Equality Act since it was first introduced in 2015 and lists its House passage in 2019 among his record.42
  • Adrian Boafo MD-5
    His campaign website says he would pass the Equality Act to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, jobs and public places.43
  • April McClain Delaney MD-6
    Her campaign website says that on day one in Congress she would sign onto the Equality Act and champion its passage.44
  • Troy D. Jackson ME Senate
    His campaign website says he would work to pass the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in health care, jobs and housing.45
  • Debbie Dingell MI-6
    Her campaign website says she cosponsors the Equality Act, which it says would ban discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in many areas of life.46
  • Jeremy Moss MI-11
    His campaign website says he would fight to pass the Equality Act, and lists among his accomplishments sponsoring the law that added LGBTQ protections to Michigan’s civil rights law.47
  • Rashida Tlaib MI-12
    Her campaign website lists her as an original cosponsor of the Equality Act and lists introducing the Justice for All Act, which it says would clarify the definition of sex in civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.48,49
  • Lydia Christensen MI Senate
    Her campaign website says she would fight to pass the Equality Act.50
  • Peggy Flanagan MN Senate
    Her campaign website says she will work to pass the Equality Act.51
  • Matt Little MN-2
    His campaign website lists passing the Equality Act first among the commitments in his LGBTQIA2S+ Bill of Rights.52
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    Her campaign website's equality page says she wants stronger national protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, citing the Equality Act, which it says she co-sponsored and the House passed.53
  • Erik Osberg MN-7
    His Equal Rights priority says he supports federal protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ people in jobs, housing, schools, health care and public accommodations.54
  • Jordan Herrera MO-4
    His campaign website says he will fight to pass the Equality Act and for strong enforcement of Bostock v. Clayton County.55
  • Chris Reichard MO-8
    His campaign website lists backing the Equality Act as part of defending people's rights.56
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she would champion the Equality Act.57
  • Alma S. Adams NC-12
    Her campaign website says more must be done on civil rights for minorities, women and the LGBT community, and lists that she co-sponsors the Equality Act.58
  • Chris Pappas NH Senate
    His campaign website says he introduced legislation to guarantee full legal equality for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations and other areas.59
  • Cory Booker NJ Senate
    His campaign website says he is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act.60
  • Ryan Michael Kelly NJ-3
    His campaign website says he supports LGBTQ+ equality and nondiscrimination protections covering jobs, housing, schools, health care and public services.61
  • Frank Pallone Jr. NJ-6
    The About page calls him a strong supporter of the Equality Act, which it describes as a bill that would outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual identity, and says he believes people should not lose a job or housing because of whom they love or their gender identity.62
  • Rebecca Bennett NJ-7
    The same page lists advancing the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ+ rights and bar discrimination based on identity or whom a person loves.63
  • Analilia Mejia NJ-11
    Her campaign issues page says she wants full equality for LGBTQ Americans, including needed health care and broad protections against discrimination.64
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says he will oppose efforts that undermine the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans and support legislation to protect them, including the Transgender Bill of Rights, which it says would set clear federal anti-discrimination protections.65
  • Winston Jordan NJ-12
    His policy platform website lists strong civil rights enforcement by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including expanded and explicit protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, education and health care.66
  • Melanie Ann Stansbury NM-1
    Her campaign website says she will fight to protect LGBTQIA+ rights, end discrimination in employment, health care and housing, and ensure that laws cover everyone, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.67

Statements that don't match one option (41)

  • Robb Ryerse AR-3
    His campaign website says LGBTQ+ people should be protected from discrimination in their daily lives.68,69
  • Michael Masuda CA-5
    His campaign website says he would enforce civil rights laws in schools, workplaces and public spaces and work to prevent discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people.70
  • Mark DeSaulnier CA-10
    His campaign website says he is a consistent advocate for LGBTQ+ equality and opposes efforts to roll back civil rights protections.71
  • Aisha Wahab CA-14
    Her campaign website says she would strengthen enforcement against discrimination in housing, employment, education and health care and protect civil liberties regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or immigration status.72,73
  • Ro Khanna CA-17
    His campaign website says no one should face discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including in the workplace.74
  • Angélica María Dueñas CA-29
    Her campaign website says LGBTQ people should have equal protection under the law and freedom from discrimination in every part of life.75
  • Robert People FL-15
    His campaign website says he will shield the LGBTQ+ community from harmful legislation and practices.76
  • Mark Davis FL-16
    His policy platform says LGBTQ+ Americans should have the same constitutional protections, marriage rights, job protections, safety, dignity and freedom as other Americans.77
  • Matthew Montavon FL-17
    His campaign website says everyone living here should have their rights respected whatever their race, creed, color, national origin or whom they love, and that Congress should secure legislation so every individual can take part in the economy without fear of threats or harm.78
  • Michael J. Quirk FL-17
    His campaign website says LGBTQ Americans deserve equal rights and equal dignity.79
  • Debbie Wasserman Schultz FL-20
    Her campaign website's legislative record lists her role as a Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group it says works for LGBTQ+ rights and for protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.80
  • Pia Dandiya FL-22
    Her campaign website says she will defend equal rights under the law so that all Americans, regardless of who they are or who they love, can live in freedom.81
  • Amanda Hollowell GA-1
    Her campaign website says every Georgian should live free from discrimination no matter who they are or who they love, and that she will defend LGBTQ+ rights.82
  • Maura Keller GA-3
    Her campaign website says she will fight to enshrine legal protections for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Americans.83
  • Caitlyn Gegen GA-9
    Her campaign website says she will fight against discrimination in all forms, including in health care, the workplace, the military and the making of a family, and is committed to protecting LGBTQIA+ rights.84
  • Jasmine Clark GA-13
    Her campaign website’s agenda lists protecting LGBTQ+ rights among her priorities.85
  • Mike Quigley IL-5
    His campaign website says he is vice chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and supports full equality under the law.86
  • Melissa L. Bean IL-8
    Her campaign website says she will protect civil rights by defending equal treatment in housing, employment, health care and public life for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.87
  • Jennifer Todd IL-15
    Her campaign website says she will strengthen protections against discrimination in housing, employment, health care and public life and oppose discrimination in any form, and its Equality and Freedom page discusses LGBTQIA+ youth and says Pride Month reflects the value that every person deserves safety, respect and equal treatment.88,89
  • Charles Booker KY Senate
    His campaign website says he would protect every Kentuckian from discrimination and harassment no matter who they are or whom they love.90
  • Katherine M. Clark MA-5
    Her campaign website says she voted to create explicit protections for the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.91
  • John "Johnny O" Olszewski, Jr. MD-2
    His campaign website says he is pushing back against Trump administration education policies that it says enable discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.92
  • Moshe Y. Landman MD-6
    His campaign website says the campaign will fight against any form of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.93
  • LaVeta Davenport MI-1
    The Green Party of Michigan 2026 platform text on her campaign website, which says she fully aligns with it, says rights should not be denied on the basis of categories such as race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.94,95
  • Charlotte Magoon MI-2
    Her campaign website says she will work for equal justice under the law for everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.96
  • Jim Bronke MI-5
    His campaign website says sensitivity toward all people allows for no discrimination because of race, color or sexual orientation.97
  • Wesley Bell MO-1
    His campaign website says LGBTQ+ people, including transgender people, should be able to live, work and attend school without being subjected to discrimination or harm, and that he helped introduce federal legislation for a Transgender Bill of Rights.98
  • Seth Bodnar MT Senate
    His campaign website says he will oppose discrimination against LGBTQ+ Montanans in employment, housing and public life.99
  • Brian J Miller MT-2
    His campaign website's LGBTQ rights page says his approach is to let people live their own lives, that he does not like to see hatred directed at people because of their sexual orientation, that it is not government's role to make people accept how others live, and that differences should be tolerated.100
  • Ashley Bell NC-10
    Her campaign website says she opposes laws that would treat LGBTQ+ Americans as second-class citizens and supports full legal equality.101
  • Macey Budke NE-3
    Her campaign website says she supports equal treatment under the law and basic non-discrimination standards, including for members of the LGBTQ+ community.102
  • Donald Norcross NJ-1
    His campaign website says any couple is now free to be in a committed relationship regardless of gender, and that as a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus he will keep working for equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws and an end to hate violence.103
  • Ramon Mora Jr. NJ-2
    The same page lists LGBTQ+ rights under the heading Let People Be, saying it supports equality in the pursuit of happiness.104
  • Andres Jinete NJ-12
    His campaign website lists defending LGBTQIA+ rights and protecting gender-affirming care among its equity and opportunity goals.105
  • Amy Acton OH Governor
    Her campaign website says she would push for state anti-discrimination laws covering jobs, housing, public accommodations and equal pay based on race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.106
  • Greg Levy OH Senate special
    His campaign website calls for legislation banning discrimination in housing and employment, in a section about immigrants, women and LGBTQ people.107
  • N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas OK Senate
    Her campaign website says she would expand anti-discrimination protections and protect transgender youth and their families.108
  • Robert Jones TN Senate
    His campaign website says all citizens, including LGBTQ+ people, should have the same equal rights.109
  • Jerri Green TN Governor
    Her platform says she would fight and veto all anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.110
  • Lauren Pinkston TN Governor
    Her campaign website says she would protect LGBTQ+ Tennesseans from discrimination in employment, while letting faith-based nonprofits set hiring policies consistent with their beliefs.111
  • Dave Seeman TN Governor
    His platform calls for statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations, and for letting cities pass their own nondiscrimination ordinances.112

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.