When the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act last week, it marked the second time the lower chamber had approved the sweeping legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
There was never any doubt the House would pass the measure, as it had done in 2019. Both times the vote was bipartisan, although the February 25 vote only garnered three Republican lawmakers in support, fewer than the eight who joined Democrats two years ago.
Nevertheless, proponents hailed its House passage. To believe that the act's approval is guaranteed in the Democratic-controlled Senate would be a mistake.