Post submitted by Brian McBride, former HRC Digital Strategist

In the years since coming out as a transgender woman, Danielle Brown faced discrimination, harassment and even threats to her life -- but said the worst part was not being taken seriously by society.

“No one gives me a chance. Being looked at as a joke in the workplace,” Brown said during a press conference. “Discrimination against LGBT people is real. People’s civil liberties are being denied.”

Brown joined pro-equality Senator Jacky Rosen in Nevada last week to talk about the vital need for Congress to pass the Equality Act -- legislation that would finally ensure LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination nationwide.

Although Nevada has explicit laws in place to protect LGBTQ people in key areas of life, including in employment, housing and public services, an estimated 50% of LGBTQ Americans live in a majority of states where they’re still at risk of discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Equality Act would fix the patchwork of protections and add clear, comprehensive federal non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation’s existing civil rights laws, protecting LGBTQ workers like Brown.

Join HRC as a Community Co-Sponsor to urge Congress to finally pass the Equality Act. The time for Congress to act is now.