AMIDST HISTORIC THREATS TO LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN REINTRODUCES EQUALITY ACT, PUSHES ALONGSIDE HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY TO PASS CRITICAL LEGISLATION

Amidst Historic Threats to LGBTQ+ Community, Congressman Pat Ryan Reintroduces Equality Act, Pushes Alongside Hudson Valley Community to Pass Critical Legislation

Congressman Ryan – a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus – is an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act 

The Equality Act would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, and education

KINGSTON, NY  –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan continued his push alongside Hudson Valley community leaders to pass the Equality Act. Ryan – a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus – is an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act and reintroduced the critical legislation in April. This landmark civil rights legislation would provide, for the first time ever,  consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life including employment, housing, credit, and education.

“There is nothing more American than the freedom to be who you are and love who you love. Generations of patriotic Americans have fought to protect and expand this freedom; yet it’s now under direct attack by Trump and far-right extremists. In the face of these attacks, I’m proud that our Hudson Valley community is standing up and fighting back – pushing together to pass the Equality Act,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “No one in our community should face discrimination based on who they are or who they love. From our schools, to our workplaces, to our homes or hospitals, I’ll keep fighting for equal rights and protections for every Hudson Valley resident in every corner of our community.”

“Especially given this moment, in which the narrative coming from the White House and others is inflammatory and seeks to invalidate our existence, we appreciate the support of Congressman Ryan and the re-introduction of the Equality Act,” said Richard Heyl de Ortiz, Executive Director, Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center. “While the path toward passage may be a ways off, this re-introduction sets a tone that is important to LGBTQ+ individuals and our community.”

“Every single person in our Kingston community and across the Hudson Valley deserves to have their inalienable rights protected. Our diversity is what makes our city great and so we must stand up for our neighbors when their rights are being threatened,” said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “I am grateful to Congressman Ryan for helping to protect LGBTQ+ rights by introducing legislation, which sends a clear message of freedom, equality, and solidarity across our entire community.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Our LGBTQ+ friends and family deserve to live freely without the constant fear of discrimination or retaliation. That’s why New York enshrined the Equal Rights Amendment in our State Constitution—and now we need Congress to act on national-level protections. With a federal administration actively working to roll back civil rights and target marginalized communities, the need for the Equality Act has never been more urgent. Passing this bill would send a clear message: discrimination has no place in our laws or in the future of our country. I thank Congressman Pat Ryan for championing this legislation and standing with us in the fight for freedom for all.”

“Here in Ulster County, we’ve taken meaningful steps to protect the dignity and rights of all people, including strengthening our Human Rights Law to explicitly include gender expression,” said Peter Criswell, Chair, Ulster County Legislature. “But local action isn’t enough. We need the full weight of federal law to ensure that no one, anywhere in this country, faces discrimination because of who they are or who they love. I fully support Congressman Pat Ryan’s call to reintroduce the Equality Act and urge Congress to act with urgency. Equality must be the law of the land.”

“The Equality Act is an essential piece of civil rights legislation that affirms the dignity and humanity of LGBTQ+ Americans and guarantees them equal protections under the law,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “At a time when the rhetoric and actions of the Administration in Washington are targeting LGBTQ+ communities, and when we are seeing anti-transgender legislation in many states, passage of the Equality Act is more important than ever, and we applaud Congressman Ryan for championing this bill. Here in Ulster County, we are dedicated to fostering inclusive and respectful communities where every person feels safe, protected, and free to be who they are.  Everyone should have these rights safeguarded no matter where in this country they live.”

A member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Congressman Pat Ryan cosponsors the Equality Act, critical legislation to provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, and education. Specifically, the Equality Act will: 

• Amend existing civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service.
• Amend existing civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded programs and public accommodations. 
• Expand the definition of “public accommodations” under the Civil Rights Act, thereby strengthening protections not just on the basis of sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), but also on the basis of race, color, national origin, and religion.

Additionally, Congressman Ryan has advanced numerous legislative efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community, including the Pride in Mental Health Act, to establish grants specifically geared towards helping LGBTQ+ youth with their mental health; the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, to ensure that lawmakers and federal agencies have the comprehensive data they need to address LGBTQ+ issues; and the Safe Schools Improvement Act, to require states to direct their schools to establish policies specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), sex characteristics (including intersex traits), disability, or religion.

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