Watch the House erupt in cheers as it passes the LGBT Equality Act

Equality has almost been served.

On Friday, the House voted 236-173 to pass the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination in housing, education, finances, and other federally funded areas based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It comes as a long-discussed expansion to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and was clearly a welcome move in the Democratic-held chamber.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) relayed some powerful words before the vote, calling mere "tolerance" of LGBT people "a condescending word." Eight Republicans voted alongside all Democrats to solidify the majority.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) opposed the bill without an amendment to ensure nothing in the law "may be construed to diminish" protections already covered in Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, citing supposed harm to women's sports if transgender women were allowed to participate. The act probably won't pass in the Republican-controlled Senate, with Politico noting that even Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) said in March he wouldn't vote for the bill in its current form.