Brown Introduces Legislation To Guarantee Equal Pay For Every American, Regardless Of Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity

Press Release

Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) reintroduced the Fair Pay For All Act of 2021 which would guarantee equal pay for every American - regardless of who they are or who they love - by expanding the definition of sex to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

According to a 2019 report from the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement & Research, one in five LGBTQ households earned less than $25,000 a year, one and a half times more often than non-LGBTQ households. Additionally, transgender women of color especially face significant financial workplace hardships.

"Every American deserves fair pay and an equal opportunity to thrive and provide for themselves and their families - no matter who they are or who they love. Pay discrimination against our LGBTQ neighbors is unacceptable, harmful and runs counter to our values as a country. It's time for Congress to act," said Congressman Brown. "We cannot solely rely on the Court's interpretation of law to protect Americans and allow them to build lives without fear of discrimination. We need to codify equal pay and protections for all."

The Fair Pay for All Act also replaces "employees of the opposite sex" in the Federal Labor Standards Act of 1938 with "employees of another sex" to provide additional protections for nonbinary and bisexual individuals.

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