Gottheimer Speaks at Pride Ceremony, Stands with Local LGBTQ Community Leaders, Calls for End to LGBTQ Discrimination and Inequality 

Praises House passing of the Gottheimer-cosponsored bipartisan Equality Act

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. – Today, Saturday, June 1, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) spoke at the Ridgewood Pride Ceremony and praised the recent passing of H.R. 5 – the Equality Act, commended the 2013 New Jersey state and 2015 national recognition of marriage equality, and called to end LGBTQ discrimination and inequality nationwide.

Today’s Ridgewood Pride Ceremony also marked the installation of a new flagpole to fly the LGBTQ pride flag in Van Neste Square Memorial Park.

Gottheimer, a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, kicked off Pride Month alongside local elected officials, including Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, and others, LGBTQ community leaders, and the Ridgewood High School Gay Straight Alliance. This year’s Pride Month marks the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Manhattan.

“We need to take this moment to honor all the champions who helped raise this rainbow flag, here in our state and across the nation. It is a vital symbol, for all of us, that hate and intolerance have no place in our communities,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “But we unfortunately know that the LGBTQ community continues to face bullying, legal discrimination, and inequality. Our work to combat this is far from over.”

On May 17, 2019, the House passed the bipartisan Equality Act (H.R. 5), cosponsored by Gottheimer. The Equality Act amends the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations, public education, federal funding, credit, and in the federal jury system.

The Equality Act included Gottheimer’s bipartisan bill – the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act – which amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit credit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Right now, in 30 states, LGBTQ people are at risk of being fired, refused housing or denied services simply because of who they are.

Fifteen states, including New Jersey, already prohibit credit discrimination based on sexual orientation, but that leaves thirty-five states that do not.

“The Equality Act was an historic passage for the House to help fix these many issues. Now, the same fight must be taken up in the Senate, and I urge my colleagues there to pass this legislation swiftly – because we need equality now,” said Gottheimer. “There’s a reason that these bills are bipartisan. Ending discrimination is not a Republican or Democratic issue – it’s a good for America issue. And we must continue making progress toward equality and acceptance and respect for the entire LGBTQ community – here in New Jersey and throughout our country.”