Obama supports bill to boost LGBT rights

By Nicole Duran, Nicole Duran

Published December 20, 2015

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The Obama administration said Tuesday it supports the Equality Act, which would include gender, sexual orientation and gender identity as factors that cannot be the basis of discrimination or segregation.

"The administration strongly supports the Equality Act," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday. "That bill is historic legislation that would advance equality for millions of Americans. We certainly are pleased with the many legislators that have taken this step forward" to move the bill for LGBT Americans, he said of the bill's 170 co-sponsors, all of whom are Democrats.

Earnest said the Obama administration looks forwarding to working with Congress to make sure the final bill extends civil liberties while protecting religious liberties, although the bill is not expected to move in the Republican Congress.

Earnest made those remarks on the same day that OUT magazine said it has chosen President Obama as its "ally of the year." Obama will be featured on the cover of OUT's next issue, which hits newsstands Nov. 17.