Nike Among Companies Supporting LGBT Equality Act

Nike is among the U.S. corporations that are supporting the Equality Act — federal legislation that would give the same protections to LGBT people as those given to other protected groups under federal law.

The Human Rights Campaign, which is behind this legislation, on Thursday announced its Business Coalition for the Equality Act, which includes 60 employers that have officially put their support behind the act. The HRC said on its website that these companies employ more than 4.2 million people in the United States and have a combined $1.9 trillion in revenue.

According to the HRC, a majority of states still do not have fully inclusive non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. The act would ensure that LGBT employees are “hired, fired and promoted based on their performance.” The act also protects in areas such as housing, credit and public accommodations.

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60 businesses take a stand in support of the Equality Act #EqualityForward https://t.co/JHVMfzSCib pic.twitter.com/Mv955rhOTK

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) March 10, 2016

The Equality Act was introduced by the House of Representatives in 2015. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sex, sexual orientation and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation, according to Congress.gov.

Along with Nike, other retailers that have pledged their support of the act include Amazon, Gap, Levi Strauss & Co. and American Eagle Outfitters. Tech companies Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Microsoft and IBM, among others, are also behind the act.

In a statement, HRC president Chad Griffin expressed pride for the companies.

“These business leaders are showing true leadership and fighting to end a shameful status quo that leaves LGBT people at risk in a majority of states for being denied services or fired because of who they are or who they love,” he said. 

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