For Immediate Release – March 2, 2022

Contact: Jerame Davis – jdavis@prideatwork.org

Pride at Work Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON – Last night, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress. In the speech, the President urged Congress to pass the PRO Act and the Equality Act, both of which have been passed by the House, but have been languishing in the Senate for almost a year.

President Biden also reaffirmed his support for transgender Americans, especially our transgender youth, telling them, “I will always have your back as your president, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.”

Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement after the speech:

“President Biden’s words of support for the transgender community are heartening to hear, but the reality is that transgender and gender non-conforming folks need the protections of the Equality Act before they can fully, ‘reach (their) God-given potential.’

“The President was right to call on Congress to pass this important bill. LGBTQ+ working people need the Equality Act on his desk as soon as possible. President Biden promised to pass the Equality Act in his first 100 days as president and even though it has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, it is being held up in the Senate by threat of filibuster.

“Similarly, the PRO Act is a vital piece of legislation to level the playing field for working people to come together and form a union in their workplace. LGBTQ+ working people are less vulnerable to discrimination and have more of a voice in their workplace when they are part of a union. In the absence of the explicit protections afforded by the Equality Act, LGBTQ+ working people’s best, most durable workplace protection is an inclusive union contract.

“While these statements from the president are a positive departure from the previous administration’s open hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, there is still much work to be done.

“Pride at Work continues to be on the front lines fighting to pass the PRO Act and the Equality Act. We urge the Senate to heed the President’s call and pass both bills without further delay.

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Pride At Work is the largest national organization that builds power for LGBTQIA+ working people. We organize mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQIA+ working people in our workplaces, our unions, and the public square. We organize in the spirit of the union movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.” Learn more at www.prideatwork.org.