Press Releases

Today, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after the House passed the “Equality Act,” legislation that elevates sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes under the “Civil Rights Act.” “While I am sympathetic to people who struggle with gender identity and respect the dignity of all Americans, I strongly oppose the Democrats’ legislation expanding the Civil Rights Act to include gender identity as a protected class. Unfortunately, this legislation politicizes sexuality, ignores basic biological reality and undermines our religious freedom. If this bill were to become law, it would force girls to compete against boys in sports and put women at risk by allowing men access to rape crisis centers, ladies’ locker rooms and other female-only facilities,” said Arrington. “Additionally, it would force employers, parents, doctors and organizations, including churches and faith-based institutions, to violate their conscience by conforming to a new, government-imposed definition of gender. For example, it could compel Christian charities to cover sex reassignment in their healthcare plans and punish physicians who refuse to perform those same surgeries. “All of us have equal value in the eyes of God and equal protection under the law. However, for the federal government to impose a belief system regarding sexuality on all Americans in the name of ‘equal rights’ is counter to both the Constitution and common sense.”